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CIRCUMSTANTIAL NARRATIVE 




CAMPAIGN IN RUSSIA. 



ETtlBELLISHED ■VFITJl 



L.INS or THE BATTLES OF THE MOSKWA AND MALO-JAROSiAVI TS, 



COlSTAiyiSfi 



A FAITHFUL DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTING AND INTERESTIXe 
SCENKS OF WHICH THE AUTHOR WAS AN ETE-WrTNESS. 



BY EUGENE LABAUME, 

Captain ol' llie Royal Geogi-aplueal Engineers ; Ex-OfRcer of the Ordnance of Piinct 

Kiigciie ; Chevalier of tlie Legion of Honour, and of the Iron Crown, Author 

of an Abridged Histoi-y of the Republic of Venice. 



rnATtSr.VTEB fhom thk fbencit. 



HARTFORD, 

PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRUS 
'>'T) BT T. PECK & CO., EOCHESTEH, X. T. 

I Sir. 



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Q 1 






PREFACE. 



I RELATE that which I have seen. A witness oi" 
the greatest disasters that ever befel a great nation ; 
a spectator and an actor in every scene of this sad 
and memorable expedition. I present the reader 
with no fictitious narrative, artfully arranged, and 
heightened by false coloring. The events that pas- 
sed around me were daily recorded, and I now sim- 
ply endeavor to communicate the impressions which 
I then felt. It was by the light of the burning of 
Moscow, that I described the sack of that unfortu- 
nate city. It was on the borders of the Beresina, 
that I traced the recital of that fatal passage. The 
plans of the battles of the Moskwa, and Malo- 
Jaroslavitz, which accompany this work, were 
taken on the spot, at the command of prince 
Eugene. 

It is scarcely possible to conceive what diffi- 
culties I had to surmount in the progress of my 
work. Compelled, like my companions in arms, 
to struggle with the most urgent necessities, pierc- 
ed by the cold, tormented with hunger, a prey to 



iV PREFACE. 

every accumulated horror ; uncertain at the rising 
of the sun whether I should see its setting rays, 
and doubtful at night, whether I should witness 
the morrow's dawn ; every thought seemed con- 
centrated in the ardent desire to live, that I might 
perpetuate the memory of what I had seen. Ani^ 
mated by this irresistible feeling, I retraced, each 
night, the events of the day, sitting beside a 
wretched fire, under a temperature of ten or twelve 
degrees, and surrounded by the dying and the 
dfead. The knife with which I had carved my 
scanty morsel of horse flesh, was employed in cut- 
ting a raven's quill, and a little gun-powder, mixed 
with some melted snow, in the hollow of my hand, 
served me for ink and ink-stand. 

1 have composed this work without personal ill 
will, and without prejudice ; yet I must confess, 
that during the recital of the most horrible enter- 
prise, which the genius of ambition had ever con- 
ceived, I could often scarcely restrain my indigna- 
tion against the author of all our misfortunes. But 
the respect with which his former well earned 
reputation had inspired me, and the memory of 
the glorious victories that I had witnessed, and in 
the honours of which I had shared, compelled ma 
to speak of that conqueror with moderation and 
reserve. 

Having constantly before me the mournful image 
of a crowd of warriors, doomed to perish miserably 
in remote deserts, I was sustained by the hope of 
rendering my feeble homage, to a courage acknowl- 



PREFACE, V 

edged even by their enemies ; and to exploits the 
more heroic, since their object was no longer the 
safety of their country, nor even of their lives, but 
the preservation of their fame. I shall account my- 
self most happy, if my reader is convinced, that in 
the midst of so many disasters, our brave soldiers 
were always worthy of themselves ; that they stain- 
ed not their ancient renown, and that, always form- 
idable to their enemies, they were conquered by 
the elements alone. 



CIRCUMSTANTIAL NARRATH F. 



CAMPAIGlSr IN RUSSIA. 



PART I BOOK I. 



WILNA, 



IF we were to look into our annals for the mosi 
brilliant period of our glorj, we should find that 
France had never been more powerful than aftet 
the treaty of Tilsit, Spain, under the name of an 
ally, was, in reality, one of our provinces, whence 
we were supplied with money, men, and ships. 
Italy, wisely governed by a prince who was at once 
a skilful warrior and an able politician, being sub- 
ject to, and obeying the same laws, as the French 
empire, enjoyed an equal share of prosperity with 
ourselves ; and sav/ with pride that her legions^, 
transported to the Baltic, had given proofs of the 
noblest courage, in order to procure for France, a 



ii WILNA. 

peace as glorious as it was beneficial. Germanyj 
alarmed by our colossal aggrandizement, far from 
opposing our successes, endeavoured merely to in- 
sure her own existence, by a submission to all the 
great changes which subverted the German consti- 
tution. England, the only constant opponent of an 
ambition so fatal to mankind, saw, in the prosperity 
of Napoleon, a new cause of fear to herself, and of 
terror to the continent. Jealous of the honour of 
circumscribing that boundless ambition, she anx- 
iously represented to the sovereigns of the north, 
how much it was their interest to arrest the rapidly 
increasing progress of our excessive power. Vain 
efforts ! these sovereigns had not yet acquired the 
requisite degree of conviction, that they must all be 
united to crush the giant who wished to devour them. 
Napoleon's passion for invasion, suggested to him 
on his return from Tilsit, the idea of declaring an 
unjust war on Spain, which not only tarnished his 
laurels, but afterwards furnished his enemies with 
the long wished for occasion of subverting his power. 
A W'cak prince nominally presided over that un- 
happy peninsula ; but a perfidious minister, treache= 
rous towards his country, and ungrateful to his king 
and benefactor, in reality governed the state with a 
partial hand ; and by the most abject deference to the 
evil counsels of foreigners, degraded the nation, whose 
rights he seemed to have usurped only to drag it in- 
to long and shameful servitude. The credulity of the 
father, and the moderation of the son, alike promo- 
ted his criminal views. He incensed them against 



WILNA. 9 

each other, and parties were soon formed. The art- 
ful Napoleon profited by the discord, which was 
thus produced, to excite a civil war, and to kindle 
that flame which was necessary for the execution of 
the most unjust and abominable project, a project 
which presents in the history of a civilized nation, 
an example of atrocious ingratitude, unparalleled 
even amongst barbarians. 

Spain, notwithstanding its proximity to France, 
was little known ; and the character of its inhabit- 
ants was still less understood. This fatal ignorance 
misled the conqueror, and induced him to attempt 
an unfortunate invasion ; the miseries of which will, 
however, be easily forgotten, when we consider that, 
like the campaign of Moscow, it was the primitive 
cause of those events which led to the happy de- 
liverance of the world. 

It does not enter into my plan to recapitulate an 
ill fated aggression, which made enemies of two na- 
tions equally generous, and who, always united by 
a reciprocal esteem, would yet have retained the 
most friendly sentiments, had it not been for the 
perfidious politics of the tyrant. The struggle which 
ensued, memorable for its obstinacy and its vicissi- 
tudes, will furnish the historian with an interesting 
subject, and the military man with ample matter for 
meditation. I ehall only briefly observe, that Prov- 
idence appears to have excited in Napoleon the idea 
of these two unjust wars, to convince the Spaniards 
and Russians that an alliance witt) the vicious will 



10 WILNA. 

unavoidably prove fatal. This instrument, whicii 
the Almighty had employed to accomplish his pur- 
pose, was now precipitated from error to error, to 
show that tyranny is a crime against the common 
and inalienable rights of man, and that it may, at all 
times, be successfully opposed by those who march 
united under the banners of justice. "^ 

Whilst Napoleon vainly endeavored to chase the 
English from the peninsula, a new storm was gath- 
ering in Germany. Austria, whom he had so often 
humbled, could not tamely submit to the disgrace- 
ful yoke under which her defeats had placed her. 
The resistance of the Spaniards, and the powerful 
armaments of England, offered her a favourable 
opportunity for again having recourse to arms, and 
endeavoring to recover the territories which she had 
lost, and that political preponderance of which she 
bad always been so jealous. 

The new war against Austria only opened a new 
field of triumph to the French. Landshut, Eckmuhl 
and Ratisbon, having been attacked^ with brilliant 
success, prepared the way at the end of four months, 
for one of the most memorable victories. The field 
of Wagram saw the prodigies of Austerlitz renewed, 
and secured to France the most glorious campaign^ 
and the most decisive results. 

The treaty of Vienna which gave us peace, 
brought several wealthy provinces under our domin- 
ion. It aggrandized Wirtemberg and Bavaria, and 
seen)ed to promise to Poland her complete re-estab- 
lishment. But that treaty, dictated by a power that 



WILNA. 11 

grasped at every thing, might, like those which pre- 
ceded it, have contained the seeds of fresh conten- 
tion, if the most august and most unexpected alli- 
ance, had not crowned the prosperity of the fortu- 
nate Napoleon. Of all the blessings which chance 
had bestowed upon him, that marriage was undoubt- 
edly the greatest 5 since it secured forever the des- 
tiny of a man, who having risen from the humblest 
rank in society, had now become allied to a power- 
ful monarch. But seduced by a prosperity so daz- 
zling, he was yet dissatisfied ; and forming new, 
and romantic, and impious projects, he hazarded 
all that he had acquired. He wearied his good 
genius, and provoked his fate. To his own folly 
alone is it to be attributed, that that which was so 
well calculated to cement his power, became the 
cause of his ruin. 

That period ought to have been esteemed the 
happiest of Napoleon's life. What more could the 
wildest ambition desire ? From a private individual 
he saw himself raised to the first throne in the 
world ; his reign had been one continued series of 
victories ; and to complete his happiness, a son, the 
object of his most ardent wishes, was born to suc- 
ceed him. The people, though oppressed under 
his government, became accustomed to it, and 
seemed desirous to secure the crown to his family. 
All the foreign princes, who were subjected to his 
power, were his vassals. They maintained his 
troops, and supplied him with money, to gratify his 
luxury and his pleasures. In short all obeyed him. 



Nothing was wanting to make him happy 1 nothing, 
if he could be happy, who possessed not a love of 
justice. To that sentiment Napoleon had ever 
been a stranger, and, consequently, knew not either 
enjoyment or repose. Agitated by a restless spirit, 
and tormented by ungovernable ambition, the very 
excess of his fortune was his ruin. Aiming at that 
which it was impossible to obtain, and ignorant of 
human nature, he forgot every principle of honor 
and humanity — he forgot himself. 

The sovereign of the German empire, tired of a 
resistance so long fatal to his arms, fancied for a 
moment, that he obeyed his fate, in yielding to a 
man to whom every one had submitted. He sacri- 
ficed his glory, and even his offspring, to obtain 
peace ; thus realizing those fabulous times, when 
magnanimous princes devoted their daughters to 
appease the wrath of some daemon, who ravaged 
their country. 

All seemed disposed to submit to the great changes 
which Napoleon had effected ; and the common 
people, whose limited conceptions seldom penetrate 
into the dark minds of ambitious monarchs, thought 
that the surprising alliance between this man and an 
archduchess, must satisfy all his immoderate desires. 
They also expected, that the tender feelings of a 
parent, would teach him, that a throne is not so 
firmly cemented by ambitious conquests, purchased 
by blood and by tears, as by wise institutions, which, 
making a government beloved, insure its duration. 
The being never existed who possessed ampler means 



WILNA. 13 

for promoting the happiness of mankind. Nothing 
was required but justice and prudence. The nation 
expected these from him, and granted him that un- 
limited confidence, which he afterwards so cruelly 
abused. Posterity will hesitate to decide, whether 
Napoleon be more culpable on account of the 
crimes which he has committed, or the good that 
he might have done, but on which he bestowed not 
a single thought. 

Instead of considering with calmness and mode- 
ration, how he might best employ his vast resources, 
he ruminated on projects beyond the power of man 
to execute ; forgetting what innumerable victims 
must be sacrificed in the vain attempt. Continu- 
ally tormented by spleen and melancholy, the least 
contradiction irritated him. The very idea that 
there existed a nation sufficiently great and gene- 
rous to despise his proposals, and resist his fatal 
influence, lacerated his bosom, and poisoned the 
happiest moments of his glory. 

In the hope of conquering that invincible enemy, 
he vainly endeavoured to grasp the extremities of 
Europe. Scarcely did he think that he had secured 
him on one side, than he escaped on the other. 
Infuriated at the disappointment of his chimerical 
plans, he aspired at universal despotism, for no 
other reason, than because a nation isolated from 
the continent, and profiting by its happy situation, 
had refused to submit to his intolerable yoke. 

From that time he dismissed his ministers, whose 
wisdom he despised. In his estimation, talent 



t4 WtLNA. 

consisted ouly in a blind submission to his absurd 
pretensions ; and it was necessary for the greatest 
men to become the most abject slaves. Despot 
over his people and his armies, and a slave to his 
own ungovernable passions, he carried his ambitious 
views to the extremites of the globe, and aspired to 
the empire of the world. Misled by his rash and 
hasty temper, he adopted a false line of politics, 
and converted in the north, as he had done before in 
the south, the most useful and powerful of his 
allies, into a dangerous enemy. 

In his senseless dreams he overstepped the nat- 
ural boundaries of France. He allotted to her a 
chimerical and romantic destiny, and terrified him- 
self with the groundless apprehension, that Russia 
might place herself on the ancient throne of Con- 
stantine, and command the two seas by which 
Europe is surrounded. He then assumed the 
prophet, predicting distant disasters to his country, 
and sacrificing the present generation to the uncer- 
tain happiness of posterity. 

Blinded by an excess of prosperity, he fancied 
that the neighbouring powers beheld him with envy; 
and, judging of others by himself, he imagined that 
Russia must look with secret jealousy on the union 
between the most ancient and the most modern em- 
pires. Full of this idea, he pursued his plans of de- 
vastation ; and desiring, as he said, that his dynasty 
might soon become the most ancient in Europe, he 
endeavoured to sanction his usurpation by dethron- 
ing every legitimate prince in order to bestow their 



WILNA. 15 

crowns on his brothers, who^ too effeminate to second 
him in his tyranny, or rival him in his exploits, only 
shone like pale satellites around an ill-boding star. 

The treaty of Tilsit appeared but a truce to those 
who knew Napoleon's character. Every one who 
compared the constantly growing power of the two 
great empires, predicted an approaching rupture, 
and foresaw, in their systematic plans of aggrandize- 
ment, the future destruction of the gigantic edifice 
which both were erecting. The distance which 
had formerly separated them, had likewise separa- 
ted their interest ; but the conquests of France, hav- 
ing rendered her a neighbour of Russia, every thing 
presaged that a terrible struggle must, ere long, 
ensue between those rival powers, the shock of 
which would convulse the world. 

For more than two years, Russia and France had 
maintained a Vv^arlike attitude ; but at length Napo- 
leon having reinforced the garrison of Dantzic, 
consisting of a strong body of troops, and completed 
the cavalry, the artillery-train, and the rnilitary 
equipages, forbore no longer to overwhelm Russia 
with reproaches. Forgetful that since the treaty of 
Tilsit, he had not only invaded Holland and the 
Hanse-towns, but likewise the duchy of Oldenburg, 
which belonged to the sister of Alexander, he impu- 
ted to the latter as a crime, that he had renewed 
a commercial intercourse with England. 

From that moment, France made immense prepa- 
rations! Numerous legions hastened from the banks 
of the Tagus to those of the Oder ; and the same 



16 WILNA. 

soldiei^ who, not long ago, had encamped on the 
fertile plains of Lombardy, saw themselves, in less 
than three months, transported to the barren sands 
of Poland. 

Nothing, however, had yet transpired respecting 
these great movements, except the famous senatus- 
consuUe* which organized the empire into cohortes, 
han^^ and arriere bans.f Thus France was on the 
point of being engaged in the most bloody contest 
which it had ever sustained, and one half of Europe 
was marching against the other, while Napoleon had 
not deigned to afford the least intimation of it to the 
senate ; nor had that body ventured to demand from 
him any reason for a war, in which France was 
about to exhaust her treasures and her blood. 

Under these circumstances all eyes were turned 
towards Prussia, anxious to discover which party she 
would espouse. Her fortresses, and her whole terri- 
tory, were occupied by our armies ; nevertheless, an 
alliance with us appeared so opposite to her true po- 
licy, and so prejudicial to her interests, that, in spite 
of the constraint and the subjugation in which we 
held her, she long hesitated to declare herself. At 
last, to the surprise of all the world, we learned that 
she had decided in our favour. J They, however, 
who knew in what manner Napoleon contracted all 

* Sitting of the Senate, 10th of March, 1812. 

f Three classes into wliich the men were divided from 25 to 60 
years of age, for the defence of the frontiers and the coasts. 

i Treaty of alHance (24th Feb. 1812,) between his majesty the 
emperor and king, and his majesty the king of Prussia. 



WlLNA. 17 

his alliances, observed that Prussia did not declare 
for us till Berlin was pressed on all sides, and the 
duke of Reggio (Oudinot) was on the point of en- 
tering it as a conqueror. The king of Prussia was 
shortly after compelled to abandon his capital, and 
leave the command of it to the French generals. 

At this time appeared another treaty of alliance, 
between France and Austria, by which it was stipu- 
lated, that each of the two contracting powers should 
furnish the other with an auxiliary corps of thirty 
thousand men, in case of attack. Napoleon, pre- 
tending that he was threatened by Russia, claimed 
and obtained the promised succour, which was put 
under the command of the prince of Schwartzen- 
berg. Thus Napoleon tyrannized over kings, as 
Robespierre tyrannized over the people. No one 
could remain neutral under either. The love of 
peace was regarded as treason, and moderation 
considered as a crime. 

Innumerable troops traversed every part of Ger- 
many, and bent their course towards the Oder. The 
king of Westphalia (Jerome Bonaparte) at the head 
of his guards and of two divisions, had already 
crossed that river, as well as the Bavarians and 
Saxons. The first corps was at Stettin, the third 
inarched in that direction ; and the fourth, having 
arrived at Glogau, replaced the Westphalians, who 
proceeded towards Warsaw. 

The composition of our army was curious and 
imposing. Were I to enumerate the different troops, 
it would remind my reader of the description of 

Homer, when he speak« of the various nations whrr 

S 



18 WILKA. 

marched to the conquest of Troy. In the inopth of 
April the grand army consisted of eight corps of in- 
fantry, each of them containing at least three divis- 
ions (the first had five divisions) and one body of cav- 
alry. To these were joined the imperial guards, com- 
posed of about fifty thousand men ; and three great 
corps of cavalry under the name of the reserve. The 
total of our forces may have amounted to three hun- 
dred thousand infantry, and sixty thousand cavalry. 
More than a thousand pieces of cannon, distributed 
amongst the difierent corps, constituted our artillery. 
The Prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust) had long com- 
manded the five divisions, which constituted the first 
corps of the army. The second was intrusted to the 
duke of Reggio (Oudinot). The third to the duke 
of Elchingen (Ney). The fourth, known by the 
name of the army of Italy, and which contained the 
royal guards, was commanded by the prince viceroy 
(Eugene Beauharnois.) Prince Poniatowski, at the 
head of his Poles, formed the fifth corps. The Ba- 
varians, incorporated into the sixth, were under the 
orders of count Gouvion St Cyr, The Saxons 
were counted as the seventh corps, commanded by 
general Regnier. The Westphalians, marching 
under the orders of their king (Jerome Bonaparte) 
look rank in the army as the eighth corps. Only a 
skeleton of the ninth was formed, but it was desti- 
ned for the duke of Belluno (Victor) ; and lastly 
the tenth corps, commanded by marshal the duke 
of Tarentum, was composed of Prussians under 
general Grawert, and included no French, except 
ihe di-yision of general Grandjean. 



WILNA. 19 

The Russian army opposed to us, was divided 
into two corps, under the denomination of first and 
second army of the west ; the one commanded by 
general Barclay de Tolly, and the other by prince 
Bagration. The number of divisions amounted to 
forty-seven, amongst which eight consisted of cav- 
alry. The emperor Alexander, who, on the 26th of 
April, arrived at Wilna with all his staff, had been 
long prepared to repel our attacks. But those who 
had studied our system of war, strenuously advised 
that monarch not to hazard a battle, being well 
assured that Napoleon's ambition would lead him 
into savage countries which, during the rigour of 
winter, would become the grave of his armies. 

Although Prussia had declared for us, prudence 
required that we should mistrust an alliance exacted 
by force. The French garrisons, in the different for- 
tified places guarded them with the utmost care, 
particularly Glogau, where the fourth corps was 
assembled. Its vicinity to Breslau, whither the 
king of Prussia had retired with the remainder of 
his troops, naturally aw^akened our fears, and indu- 
ced the governor to take every precaution against a 
coup de main, which might have proved fatal to the 
enterprises of France. 

The fourth corps, which arrived from Italy, under 
the denomination of the army of observation, seem- 
ed, from its title, to be destined alternately to 
advance in front of the grand army, and to observe 
its flanks, and lastly, to rejoin it when great events 
required its assistance. Having had the honour to 



20 WILNA. 

belong to this corps, I shall more particularly de- 
scribe its exploits during this memorable campaign. 
Its operations, when separated from the grand 
army, were more interesting than those of any other 
corps, and it was generally united to the main body 
when circumstances induced Napoleon to concen- 
trate his forces. 

The viceroy (Eugene Beauharnois) before he was 
appointed to the fourth corps, which had in the in- 
terim been under the orders of the duke of Abrantes 
(Junot) was called to Paris, where his frequent con- 
ferences with the emperor led to the belief that he 
was destined to higher functions than those which 
attached to the command of one corps of the army. 
The rumour had long been spread that Napoleon, 
desirous of terminating in person the Spanish war, 
had announced in council that he intended to con- 
fide the government of the empire to a young prince, 
if circumstances should oblige him to absent 
himself from the capital. But these brilliant hopes, 
which since the repudiation of his mother seemed 
to have no foundation, were soon destroyed. The 
viceroy, having received his instructions seven or 
eight days after his arrival in Paris, took the road to 
Poland, and arrived at Glogauon the 12th of May. 

While he remained at Glogau, he reviewed the 
troops which had been placed under his orders, and 
was particularly pleased with the fine appearance of 
the fifteenth division, consisting solely of Itahans, 
and amounting to thirteen thousand men. The sol- 
diers who composed it were sp excellently disci^ 



WILNA. 21 

plined that general Pino, though first captain of the 
royal guards, deemed it an honor to command them. 

The fourth corps was to assemble at Plock. The 
Bavarian army was there already ; and the prince 
viceroy arrived in this town by way of Posen, a few 
days before his army. He employed this time in re- 
connoitering the banks of the Narew, and in uniting 
the lines of defence formed by this river, with those 
of the lakes which extend from Angerburg to Joan- 
nisburg. His highness particularly examined the 
fortress of Modlin, whither the king of Westphalia 
had also proceeded. The conference between these 
princes appeared to indicate that the banks of the 
Bug and of the Narew would be the theatre of war. 
But a few days afterw-ards, all eyes were directed 
towards the emperor, who had arrived at Thorn. 
The viceroy went to pay his respects to him, and 
on his return made the necessary dispositions to 
effect a movement on the fourth of June. 

On that day our corps marched for Soldau, which 
it reached on the 6th. The troops w^ere allowed a 
halt of two days, which were employed in construc- 
ting ovens for the use of the army. We then march- 
ed to Villemberg, where we likewise remained two 
days ; and three days afterwards we arrived at Ras- 
tembourg, a neat little town surrounded by lakes. 
It afforded a valuable supply of provisions to the 
army, being the largest and most populous town we 
had passed through since our departure from Glogau. 
From Rastembourg we marched to Lotzen, and 
afterwards to Oletzko, the last town in East-Prussia, 



22 VVILJN'A. 

Two leagues further on we entered Poland, and 
soon perceived the striking difference between these 
two countries. In the one the houses are clean and 
well built ; in the other, they are dirty and of a 
clumsy construction. The inhabitants of the former 
are civil and hospitable ; those of the latter con- 
sisted chiefly of filthy and disgusting Jews. Many 
of the petty seigneurs were too indigent to maintain 
the proper splendour of their rank : but the higher 
orders of the nobility are brave, magnificent, and 
generous. Unsullied honour and ardent patriotism 
will ever constitute them true heroes. The peas- 
antry are few in number, and this defect in the 
population, joined to the barrenness of the soil, ac- 
counts for the uncultivated state of the country. 
The sandy plains of Poland, planted only with bad 
rye, seemed doomed to lasting sterility. 

We arrived at Kalwary, a considerable town filled 
wdth Jews. At Marienpol we found a similar pop- 
ulation. Tired of beholding the numbers, and the 
disgusting appearance of these people, we used to 
say that Poland w^as but another Judea, in which a 
Polonese was rarely to be seen. 

During this march, Napoleon left Thorn, and 
visited the fortress of Dantzic, which his thirst for 
dominion made him regard as one of the most im- 
portant in his empire. Thence he went to Osterode, 
^nd passed rapidly through the towns of Leipstadt 
and Kreutzbourg, in the neighborhood of Heilsberg, 
Eylau, and Friedland, which had been the theatre of 
his greatest military exploits. On his arrival at 



WILNA. ,2S 

Koningsberg, he made every preparation for his 
great enterprise. He reviewed numerous divisions, 
visited the fortress of Piilau, and a few days after- 
wards, marching with the centre of his army, trav- 
ersed the Pregel as far as Gumbinnen. 

Napoleon hoped to intimidate Russia by his pre- 
parations, and to compel her to submit to his dictates, 
while he disregarded every thing which could possi- 
bly lead to a friendly understanding with Russia, or 
to the maintenance of peace. Russia, with an 
excess of moderation, seldom to be met with in 
great powers, consented that France should retain a 
garrison in Dantzic ; but she required, and with jus- 
tice, the evacuation of Prussia, that a country unoc- 
cupied by the troops of either power might be left 
between these two great empires. These wise and 
moderate conditions were called by Napoleon, arro- 
gant and altogether extraordinary demands /* and on 
llie formal refusal of Russia to listen to the embassy 
of count Lauriston without these preliminaries^ 
Napoleon was absolutely enraged, and exclaimed, 
in a tone of phrenzy which the slightest contradic- 
tion always excited, " The vanquished assume the 
tone of conquerors. A fatality involves them ; let 
their destinies he fulfilled J^ Leaving Gumbinnen 
that very instant, he went to Wilkowiski, 22d of 
June, 1812, and issued the following proclamation 
in his general orders : — 

" Soldiers, 

The second Polish war is begun. The first ter^ 
minated at Friedland and at Tilsit. At Tilsit, Rus- 

-• Second bulletin of the framl ormy. 



M WlLNA. 

Sia vowed an eternal alliance with France, and waf 
with Englan'd. She now breaks her vows, and 
refuses to give any explanation of her strange con- 
duct, until the French eagles have repassed the 
Rhine and left our allies at her mercy. 

" Russia is hurried away by a fatality ! Her des- 
tinies will be fulfilled. Does she think us degene- 
rated ? Are w^e no more the soldiers who fought at 
Austerlitz ? She places us between dishonour and 
war. Our choice cannot be difficult. Let us then 
march forward. Let us cross the Niemen, and 
carry the war into her country. This second Polish 
war will be as glorious for the French arms as the 
first has been ; but the peace we shall conclude, 
will carry with it its own guarantee, and will termi- 
nate the fatal influence which RussiJi, for fifty years 
past, has exercised in Europe." 

This proclamation reacbed us at Kalwary. Un- 
becoming real greatness, it was only remarkable for 
its excessive boasting, and for the prophetic tone of 
its contents : yet, although it was but a monotonous 
repetition of the same ideas so often expressed, it ex- 
cited the ardour of our soldiers, always ready to lis- 
ten to any thing flattering to their courage. Elated 
with the idea of treading on Russian ground, they 
proudly contemplated the commencement of the 
second Polish war, and were eager to leave behind 
them a river at which they had closed their victori- 
ous career, at the termination of the first war. The 
word Niemen inflamed their imagination. They 
burned to pass it : and this desire was the more nat- 



WILNA. 25 

Ural, as, independent of the spirit of conquest, the 
miserable state of Poland every day augmented our, 
sufferings and privations. To silence our com- 
plaints, the territory of Russia was always held out 
to us as the promised land.- 

The Russian army opposed to ours, was com- 
posed of six divisions. The first, twenty thousand 
strong, and commanded by the prince of Witt- 
genstein, occupied Rossiena and Keidanoui. The 
second corps, consisting likewise of twenty thousand 
men under the orders of general Bagawout, guarded 
Kowno. The third, consisting of twenty-four thou- 
sand men, under general Schomoaloff, was posted at 
New-Troki. The fourth corps, commanded by gen- 
eral Tutschkoff, was stationed between New-Troki 
and Lida. These four divisions together with the 
guards, formed what the Russians called, the First 
Army of the West. The second army comprised 
the fifth corps, amounting to forty thousand men, 
and the sixth corps, called that of Doctorow, of 
eighteen thousand men. This second army, com- 
manded by Prince Bagration, was encamped at 
Grodno, Lida, and throughout Wolhynia. General 
Markoff organized in this province, the ninth and 
fifteenth divisions, which were to form the seventh 
corps, and which acted in the sequel, under the 
orders of general Tormazow, against the duchy of 
Warsaw. 

Such was the position of the Russians beyond 
the Niemen, when the king of Naples (Murat) who 
commanded our cavalry, established his head-quar- 
4 



2'G WlLNA. 

ters within two leagues on this side of the river, (23d 
June.) He had with him the two corps of cavalry^ 
commanded by generals Nansouty and Montbrun, 
each composed of three divisions. The first corps 
took post at the opening of the great forest of Pil- 
wisky. The second corps and the guards marched 
in the rear. The third, fourth, and sixth corps, ad- 
vanced by Marienpol, and marched at a day's dis- 
tance from each other. The king of Westphalia, 
with the fifth, seventh, and eighth corps, directed 
his march to Grodno, up the Narew, and facing the 
army of prince Bagration. 

The pontoons under the orders of general Eble, 
arrived the same day at the Niemen. Napoleon, 
disguised as a private Polish soldier, and in com- 
pany with the general of the engineers Haxo, tftren 
visited the line of the Niemen, and from the heights 
which command Kowno, discovered the most ad- 
vantageous point. About eight o'clock at night, 
the army was put in motion. Three light compa- 
nies of the division of Morand (first division of the 
first corps) passed the Niemen, and protected the 
construction of three bridges, which were thrown 
across the river. 

At day-break, that is to say, about one o'clock in 
the morning, we were close to Kowno. General Pa- 
jol having pushed forward the advanced guard, occu- 
pied the town with one battalion and drove before 
him the enemy's cavalry, which retired as we advan- 
ced. On the 24th and 25th, the army continued to 
cross the river at the three bridges. In the meantime. 



WILNA. 27 

Napoleon, having arrived at Kowno, caused another 
bridge to be thrown across the WiUa, near that 
town ; while the king of Naples (Murat) marched 
towards Zismori, and the marshals, prince of Eck- 
muhl (Davoust) and duke of Elchingen (Ney) went 
the one to Roumchichki, and the other to Kormelov. 

The following day (27th June) our light cavalry 
was within ten leagues of Wilna. The day after, 
about two o'clock in the morning, the king of Naples 
continued his march, supported by the division of 
cavalry of general Bruyeres, and by the first corps. 
The Russians fell back on all sides behind the Wilia, 
after burning the bridge and their magizines. A 
deputation consisting of the principal inhabitants of 
Wilna, now delivered to Napoleon the keys of the 
town. He entered about noon, and proceeded im- 
mediately to the advanced posts of general Bruyeres, 
to ascertain the direction in which the enemy had 
retreated. They were pursued on the left of the 
Wilia, when Octave de Segur, captain of hussars, 
was wounded and taken prisoner in a charge of cav- 
alry. This distinguished officer was the first in this 
campaign, who fell into the hands of the Russians. 

The point which Napoleon had chosen to pass the 
Niemen was difficult to defend, Kowno being com- 
manded by a high mountain on our side, which 
completely overhung the town. But if this position 
had been even less advantageous to us, it was not 
the intention of the Russians to oppose our first 
efforts. It is said that the emperor Alexander had 
made every preparation to dispute the passage of the 
Niemen ; but that at the moment at which the at- 



28 WILNA. 

tack was to have commenced, general Barclay de 

Tolljj throwing himself at the feet of his master, 

entreated him not to combat a formidable army 

which nothing could resist ; adding that Napoleon 

should be suffered to pass like a torrent, keeping 

their forces unbroken in reserve, to be employed 

against him, when famine and the inclemency of 

the season had thinned his ranks. I will not vouch 

for the authenticity of this anecdote : but it will not 

be thought improbable when it is recollected that 

the emperor Alexander, after having remained six 

weeks at Wilna, inspecting his armies and recon- 

noitering the principal points which were capable 

of defence, suddenly abandoned this line without 

fighting, and ordered a retreat across the Dwina 

and the Nieper. 

On our arrival at Wilna we read the proclama- 
tion which the emperor of Russia had issued When 
he learned that the French troops had passed the 
Niemen. It paints so truly the magnanimity and 
the equity of Alexander, that on comparing it with 
the proclamation of Napoleon published at Wilko- 
wiski, and breathing a spirit of unbounded arro- 
gance and injustice, the reader may obtain a perfect 
knowledge of the characters of these two conquer- 
ors, on whom the eves of the world were then fixed. 
It was thus worded :— - 

' Wilna, the 25th of June, 1812. 
' We had long observed, on the part of the em- 
peror of the French, the most hostile proceedings 
towards Russia ; but we had always hoped to avert 



YVILNA. 29 

them by conciliatory and pacific measures. At 
length, experiencing a continued renewal of direct 
and evident aggression, notwithstanding our earnest 
desire to maintain tranquillity, we were compelled 
to complete and to assemble our armies. But even 
then we flattered ourselves that a reconciliation 
might be produced while we remained on the fron- 
tiers of our empire, and, without violating one prin- 
ciple of peace, were prepared only to act in our 
own defence. All these conciliatory and pacific 
measures could not preserve the tranquillity which 
we desired. The emperor of the French, by sud- 
denly attacking our army at Kowno, has been the 
first to declare war. As nothing, therefore, could 
inspire him with those friendly sentiments which 
possessed our bosoms, we have no choice but to 
oppose our forces to those of the enemy, invoking 
the aid of the Almighty, the witness and the defen- 
der of the truth. It is unnecessary for me to recall 
to the minds of the generals, the officers, or the sol- 
diers, their duty and their bravery. The blood of 
the valiant Sclavonians flows in their veins. Warri- 
ors ! you defend your religion, your country, and 
your liberty ! I am with you. God is against the 
aggressor. 

(Signed) Alexander.' 

While the whole of our army was concentrated 
near Wilna, the second Russian corps, under gener- 
al Bagawout, effected its retreat across the Dwina. 
Prince Wittgenstein likewise was retreating to Wil- 
komer, since the duke of Reggio (Oudmot) by 



30 WILNA. 

marching on Janow and Chatoui, had forced him to 
abandon Samogitia. On the 28th they met near 
Develtovo. A smart cannonade commenced ; but 
prince Wittgenstein being driven from his position, 
and pursued by our troops as far as the Dwina, pas- 
sed the bridge thrown over this river with so much 
precipitation, that he had not time to burn it. 

The Russians being repulsed beyond the river, 
the fifth, seventh, and eighth corps, under the orders 
of prince Poniatowski, and the king of Westphaha 
(Jerome Bonaparte) took possession of Grodno, and 
closely pressed the second army of the west, under 
prince Bagration. Intrenched, however, in a strong 
position, he resisted all their attacks ; and by a hap- 
py employment of his numerous corps of cossacks, 
commanded by the Hetman Platoff, he w^ould, no 
doubt, have long defended the provinces confided 
to him, if, after the evacuation of Wilna, he had not 
been ordered to join general Barclay de Tolly. 
Prince Eckmuhl (Davoust) was instantly detached 
from our centre, to occupy the road to Minsk, and 
prevent their junction. 

On the 29th of June, the fourth corps, which had 
hitherto remained in observation behind the Nie- 
men, came in sight of this long desired river. On 
arriving at Pilony, the place appointed for our pas- 
sage, we found the viceroy, the duke of Abrantes 
(Junot) and all the sj;aff, who, notwithstanding the 
rainy weather, were busy in coostructing a bridge. 
The artillery of the royal guards w^as posted on an 
eminence commanding the opposite shore. This 
was a wise, but useless precaution ; for, on recon- 



WILNA. 31 

noitering beyond the Niemen, we learned that every 
thing was perfectly tranquil on that side. 

We now dismissed all apprehension with regard 
to the success of our passage, for an aid-de-camp of 
the viceroy, sent with a message to Napoleon, had 
informed us, that our troops, after having passed the 
defile from Kowno to Roumchichki, without oppo- 
sition, were arrived at Zismori ; that even the posi- 
tions betw^een Rouikontoui and Wilna had been but 
slightly defended by the Russians ; and that havings 
moreover, constructed no redoubts on the heights, 
within two leagues of this town, the emperor had 
entered it on the 28th instant, preceded by the Po- 
lish uhlans of the eighth regiment, commanded by 
prince Radzivil. The report of this officer men- 
tioned, that the suburbs had suffered a little from 
the rapacity of our soldiers, but order having been 
speedily re-established, every thing returned to its 
natural course. He likewise added, that this great 
and populous town afforded ample supplies for the 
army, and was favorably disposed towards the views 
of Napoleon. 

The following day, the thirteenth and fourteenth 
divisions, under generals Delzons and Broussier, 
quietly effected their passage ; and the day after (1st 
July) the royal guards, followed by the division of 
Pino, effected theirs. Thus all the Italian troops 
passed the Nieraen in one body, in presence of their 
viceroy. They expressed their sense of this honour 
by spontaneous acclamations ; and the prince must, 
in his turn, have felt great satisfaction at beholding 
the soldiers whom he had raised, marching undi^ 



32 VVILJNA. 

mayed into an enemy's country, and at a distance of 
six hundred leagues from their native soil, preserv- 
ing the same discipline and the same fine appear- 
ance, as if manoeuvring in front of his palace. 

Scarcely had we reached the opposite shore, 
when we seemed to breathe a new air. However, 
the roads were dreadfully bad, the forests gloomy, 
and the villages completely deserted ; but the ima- 
gination, inflamed by a spirit of conquest, was en- 
chanted with every thing that it saw, and cherished 
illusions which were but too soon destroyed. 

In effect, our short stay at Pilony, while the rain 
beat tempestuously, was marked by such extraordi- 
nary disasters, that any man, without being super- 
stitious, would have regarded them as the presage 
of our future misfortunes. In this wretched village, 
the viceroy himself had no house to shelter him ; 
we were heaped upon one another under some 
wretched sheds, or exposed to all the inclemencies 
of the weather. An extreme scarcity made us an- 
ticipate the horrors of famine. The rain fell in 
torrents, and overwhelmed both men and horses. 
The first escaped, but the badness of the roads 
completed the destruction of the latter. They 
were seen dropping by hundreds in the evirons of 
Pilony. The road was covered with dead horses, 
overturned waggons and scattered baggage. It 
was in the month of July, that we suffered thus 
from cold, and rain, and hunger. So many ca- 
lamities excited in us sad foreboding of the future, 
and every one began to dread the event of an 
enterprise the commencement of which was so 



WILNA. OS 

disastrous ; but the sun re-appeared on the horizon, 
the clouds dispersed, our fears were scattered with 
them, and from that moment we thought that the 
fine season would last forever. 
'^ After a march of two hours through marshy 
ground, we arrived at the town of Kroni (1st July) 
in which the chateau and all the houses are built of 
wood. I make this observation here, because most 
of the villages in Russia are thus constructed. 
Whenever I find them otherwise I shall remark it. 
We found some brandy in Kroni, which the soldiers 
seized with great avidity. This place not being 
inhabited by any Jews, the houses were all desert- 
ed, which convinced us that the enemy, in order to 
ruin the country through which we were to pass, 
and deprive us of all means of subsistence, had 
carried along with them the inhabitants and the 
cattle. 

The next day (2d July) we received orders to 
march to Zismori, to regain the great road which 
the emperor had taken. Arrived in this large town, 
we found only some Jews, still overwhelmed with 
terror at the horrible tumult which the passage of 
our troops had occasioned. The first orders were 
to halt here, but on the arrival of the viceroy, the 
stafif continued their route to Melangani, leaving 
the division of Pino at Zismori, and those of 
generals Delzons and Broussier in the environs of 
Strasounoui. 

The following day (3d July) we proceeded to Ri- 
contoui, a miserable village, with a little cJ>' -^au built 
of wood on the left, and on the right, a oh erect- 



34 WILIS A. 

ed on an eminence. The prince did not stop hercy 
but took up his quarters at a chateau placed near the 
branchina: off of the cross-road leadino; to New-Troki. 

Our corps had pleased itself with the hope, that it 
was destined for Wilna. Sadly was it disappointed, 
when on the morrow (July 4th) our advanced-guard 
took a direction towards New-Troki. Every one 
complained of the change in our route. They 
said that a fatality attached to our corps ; that har- 
rassed with fatigue, we were suddenly and unneces- 
sarily prevented from entering a town where we 
had expected to repose ourselves after our long and 
tedious march. Our commanders endeavored to 
console us for this disappointment, by assuring us 
that we should certainly visit Witepsk and Smo- 
lensko, two towns which would soon make us forget 
Wilna. 

After four tedious hours, during W'hich we had 
traversed nothing but forests and miry foot-paths, 
we arrived near New-Troki, situated on an emi- 
nence and surrounded by lakes. This delightful 
place formed a striking contrast with the road we 
had just quitted, and every one admired its fine 
situation, and the charming effect which was pro- 
duced by a large convent on the summit of a 
mountain that overlooked the town. Others were 
struck with the wild appearance of the impenetra- 
ble forests, and the clearness of the waters, which 
are said never to freeze. They who had acquired 
any taste for the beauties of nature, were never 
tired of admiring this romantic spot. In the 
middle of the lake was an old ruined castle, whose 



WILNA. 35 

darkened walls projected on one side over the sur- 
face of the water, and on the other seemed to touch 
the gilded horizon. 

Troki appeared at first a delightful spot, but the 
illusion ceased the moment we entered it. We had 
scarcely approached the first houses, when a crowd 
of Jews, followed by women, children, and old men 
with their beards reaching to their girdles, threw 
themselves at our feet, and implored us to deliver 
them from the rapacity of the soldiers, who plunder- 
ed and destroyed every thing which fell into their 
power. We could grant them nothing but our pity. 
The town in which we were quartered had no mag- 
azines, and our soldiers, having been long deprived 
of their rations, subsisted now only on pillage. This 
caused the greatest confusion. And the fatal want 
of discipline which it produced was the more perni- 
cious, as it is an infallible sign of the approaching 
ruin of an army. 

The houses of the Russians at Troki, had been 
all deprived of their furniture by the inhabitants, 
who had carried every thing away with tHem in 
their flight ; and the houses of the Jews, which 
were disgustingly dirty, had been pillaged by the 
soldiers. Thus an abode, which we had expected 
to find so agreeable, was, in the highest degree, 
unpleasant and uncomfortable. We had not even 
straw to sleep upon ; and the forage for the horses 
was procured from a distance of nearly four leagues. 

As it was probable that we should remain some 
days at Troki, the emperor having halted at Wilna, 
the viceroy went to him, and they had some long 



36 TVILNA. 

conferences together. Several oflPicers also obtain- 
ed leave to go there, and had an opportunity of 
witnessing the artifices to which Napoleon resorted 
to ensure his conquest. He excited the enthusiasm 
of the people by the most magnificent promises, 
and obtained from them the greatest sacrifices. 
The nobles also exerted themselves to the utmost 
of their power in promoting the views of the con- 
queror. By his means, they hoped to ensure 
the independence of Poland ; and to restore to 
their country the glory which she had possessed 
in the times of the Jagellons, the Cassimirs, and the 
Sobieskies. 

The sight of the Polish standards, floating on 
the walls of the ancient capital of the dukes of 
Lithuania, excited the enthusiasm of all the inhab- 
itants, and recalled the most pleasing and brilliant 
recollections to the minds of those who cherished 
the memory of the ancient glory of their beloved 
country. Nothing, however, more forcibly reminded 
them of their former greatness, than to meet again 
on the borders of the Wilia, those warriors who had 
devoted the time of their exile to immortalize the 
Polish name on the banks of the Nile, the Tiber^ 
the Tagus, and the Danube. The air was rent with 
joyful acclamations. Crowds every where followed 
their steps. All wished to see them, to engrave on 
their hearts the image of their brave compatriots ; 
and all glowed with the noble desire of marching 
under the same banners. 

Napoleon, having given audience to the whole 
foody of the university, questioned the principal on 



WILNA. ' 37 

the different branches of science which were taught 
in that celebrated institution. He afterwards re- 
organized the civil administration of the town^ 
which had been completely subverted by the de- 
parture of the chief functionaries, and by the loss of 
all the books and registers that belonged to the 
archives of the place. After the example of France 
he divided the invaded provinces into different dis- 
tricts, nominating inspectors, receivers, commissa- 
ries of police, and above all, intendants to facilitate 
the payment of his numberless requisitions. But he 
principally endeavored to stimulate the Lithuanians 
to make levies en masse, for the formation of new 
corps. He offered arms to all the peasants who 
were inclined to revolt against their masters ; and 
strove, as at the commencement of our revolution, 
to cause a civil war between the people and the 
nobility. 

These projects certainly caused some sensation 
in the city where the emperor commanded ; but, in 
the towns and the country, nothing was produced 
favourable to the projected revolution. Napoleon, 
however, continued to invite the Lithuanians to as- 
sist him ; and to impose on them, he endeavoured to 
astonish the vulgar. He spoke with equal fluency, 
and at the same audience, of the public spectacles, 
and of religion, of war, and of the arts. He was 
seen on horseback at all hours of the day ; and after 
having superintended the erection of some new 
bridge or fortification, he immediately entered his 
cabinet, and showed himself perfectly master of the 
most complicated scheme of politics or finance : 



38 WILNA. 

and often he affected to assist at a ball or a concertj 
on the eve of the most important battle. 

The commission which was formed for the gene- 
ral administration of all Lithuania, consisted, at 
first, of only five members : but Napoleon added to 
their number in proportion as his partisans increas- 
ed. The day on which that commission was insti- 
tuted, three proclamations were instituted. The 
first which was addressed to the people, announced 
the installation of the provisional government of 
Lithuania, and enforced the gratitude which was 
due to him who had delivered Poland from the 
grasp of its oppressors. The next exhorted the 
clergy to second the zeal of the nation, and to 
obtain, by their fervent prayers, the favour of 
Almighty God. The third, the object of which 
was to recall the Lithuanians who were in the ser- 
vice of Russia, contained the following words : — 

* POLANDERS, 

* You are under Russian banners. It was per- 
mitted you to serve that power while you had no 
longer a country of your own. But all is now 
changed. Poland is newly created. You must 
combat for her complete re-establishment, and com- 
pel the Russians to acknowledge those rights of 
which you had been despoiled by injustice and usur- 
pation. The general confederation of Poland and 
Lithuania, recalls every Polander from the Russian 
service. Generals of Poland, officers and soldiers ! 
listen to the voice of your country. Abandon the 
standards of your oppressors. Hasten and range 



WILNA. 39 

yourselves under the eagle of the Jagelloiis, the 
Casimirs and the Sobieskies ! Your country requires it 
of you. Honour and religion equally command it.'* 

The committee of the government established at 
Wilna, which lent itself to the views of Napoleon, 
merely to lighten those calamities, which the horrors 
of the war had brought on the people, was indefati- 
gably zealous in every thing which could promote 
the interest of the administration. The department 
of Wilna was already formed, and the conquered 
territory was divided into eleven sub-districts. 
That organization, apparently advantageous, produ- 
ced, however, no kind of benefit. The country was 
pillaged, the villages deserted, and all the peasants 
fled into the woods. We saw only a few miserable 
Jews, covered with rags, who from a spirit of avarice, 
chose rather to expose themselves to the insults of 
our soldiers, than abandon their infectious habita- 
tions. In short, to give some faint idea of the dis- 
order which prevailed in the midst of this pretended 
organization, I shall only mention, that when the 
sub-prefect of New-Troki came from Wilna, to take 
possession of his government, he was stopped by our 
troops, and plundered of every thing. Even his own 
escort robbed him of his provisions and clothes ; 
and at length he arrived on foot, in a condition so 
wretched, that every one regarded as a spy the man 
who was destined to be our first administrator. 

Thus the brilliant hopes with which the Poland- 
ers had at first flattered themselves, began to fade, 

* See Lithuanian Courier, Ju3y 7, 1812. 



40 VVILNA. 

when it was perceived, that our chief was actuated 
solely by the puerile ambition of placing a new 
crown on his head ; and, that while he was unable 
to consolidate any thing he talked incessantly of 
conquering immense provinces, and of subjecting 
to the same laws and the same sceptre, countries 
which differed so widely in their customs and their 
climates. Blind to the want of discipline which 
prevailed in his army, he occasioned the ruin of the 
rich, and the despair of the poor ; and reduced the 
Lithuanians to consider those as their greatest ag- 
gressors, who had promised to become their deliv- 
erers. He thus exposed us to the hatred of the 
people ; and made us the first and the saddest 
victims of his tyranny. 

While this happened at Wilna, Warsaw might 
have exhibited the sublimest spectacle, if she had 
not been under the baneful influence of a man who 
trifled with the fate of nations ; and whose plans, 
never the offspring of mature reflection, were always 
frustrated, when their execution required calmness 
and prudence. The unhappy Polanders, relying on 
his flattering promises, assembled in their capital 
(June 28), and formed a diet. The committee di- 
gested an eloquent report, in which the orator stated 
the importance of the work which had been entrus- 
ted to their care. He reminded his auditors, in an 
energetic manner, that Poland, placed in the centre of 
Europe, had formerly been a distinguished empire, 
mistress of a country extensive and fertile, and 
equally celebrated for her valour and her refine- 
ments ; that for many centuries, she had with unwea- 



WILNA. 41 

lied courage, repulsed from her borders, those bar- 
barous tribes who attempted in vain to subjugate 
the civiUzed world ; that the honour of filHng their 
throne had ever been an object of universal desire ; 
and that if some little divisions had arisen among 
themselves, they had only obscured for a short time 
their own horizon, without carrying the tempest 
abroad. He enumerated at length all that their be- 
loved country had suffered from the ambition of 
Russia, who had outraged a powerful nation by fre- 
quent dismemberments. He dwelt particularly on 
the last period when Poland was annihilated by a 
triple partition, and Warsaw heard, amidst the 
shouts of a ferocious conqueror, the lamentable cries 
of the inhabitants of Praga, given, without mercy, 
to the sword and to the flames. He showed that 
Russia, continually trampling upon Poland, gradu- 
ally approached nearer to Germany, and already 
aspired at her conquest ; and, finally, he demonstra- 
ted that such a fatal superiority of power, must 
ultimately destroy the rights of every nation, and 
subject the whole world to its empire. 

After this rapid exposition of facts, the speaker 
made a less animated, but not a less judicious, enu- 
meration of the weighty reasons which ought to 
unite Poland to France. 'Europe,' said he, 're- 
quires some rest after twenty-five years of violent 
agitation. Her system will remain incomplete, nor 
will the reward of her struggles and her blood be 
secure as long as the regions of the north are per- 
mitted to vomit forth those hordes, to the true char- 
acter of which it becomes us to be no longer blind. 

6 



42 WILNA. 

They are no more those whom necessity alone for- 
ced to quit their savage abodes, and to seek in other 
lands the comforts which their own inhospitable 
climate denied. A blind instinct once served them 
instead of the arts which civilize or defend other 
countries. But now the refinements of polished 
nations are united to the barbarism of former times. 
The Russian has supplicated from the European, 
and he has now learned from him all the arts of 
attack and defence, and he has made them the 
instruments of desolation and destruction. He is 
in some respects the equal of the European, and he 
may soon become his master. In Russia, supersti- 
tious and submissive slaves unhesitatingly obey the 
orders of a government to whom every outrage is 
familiar. For a century past they have been busily 
employed in undermining all those banks which 
have restrained a torrent that threatens destruction 
to the world. How often have they overflowed 
them, urged either by their own ambition, or invited 
by imprudent princes to whom they brought slavery 
instead of assistance. Russia, in the course of fifty 
years, has twenty times overwhelmed the south 
of Europe with her arms. The empire of Constan- 
tinople is almost subverted, and her crescent shorn 
of half its splendour.' 

Animated by his subject he thus continued : — 
* Henceforth the children of the Piasts and the Ja- 
gellons will be proud to bear a name which was 
the glory of their ancestors ; a name at which they 
grew pale, whom fraud and injustice have, for a 
short time, made our masters. Let us not doubt 



WILNA. 43 

that this countiy once so rich in heroes, will recover 
all her wonted glory. She will produce new Sigis- 
monds, and new Sobieskies. She will shine with 
more brilliant and purer lustre ; and surrounding 
nations, compelled to do us justice, will acknowl- 
edge that nothing was wanting in Poland for the 
growth of every virtue, but the cultivation of the 
soil by the free and unfettered hands of her own 
children.' 

Then addressing the venerable old man*, who, 
from his services and his virtues, presided at the as- 
sembly, he concluded with the following beautiful 
apostrophe : — ' Nestor of the Polish patriots, when 
you left them, you carried with you the gods, which 
had escaped the overthrow of your country. They 
return lo it to-day, to receive eternal adoration ; and 
to dwell in it as in a temple, around which the 
whole nation, instructed by their misfortunes, and 
awakened to vigilance by the surprises from which 
they have suffered, will not cease to maintain a 
constant guard ; which they will enrich with every 
virtue that has adorned the Polish character, and 
which they pledge themselves to defend at the haz- 
ard of their lives.' 

After this harangue the orator submitted another 
report to the diet, in which he explained the motives 
that had induced the committee to draw up the act 
of confederation ; declaring that it was the wish of 
the nation to otfer the crown to the king of Saxony ; 
who, too wise and too virtuous to object, would 

'■ Prince Czartoryski, grand marshal at the diet. 



44 VVILNA. 

condescend they hoped, to accept it, and unite 
with Divine Providence in restoring the arms of 
Lithuania to their escutcheon, and in spreading 
through the fertile countries of Wolhynia, and the 
extensive plains of Podolia and the Ukraine, the 
cheering sounds of. Long live Poland ! Long live 
our Country ! 

The committee then produced the act of confed- 
eration, the chief articles of which consisted, in 
uniting every part of ancient Poland, in the forma- 
tion of the new kingdom : in recalling the Poland- 
ers from the Russian service ; and lastly in sending 
a deputation to the emperor Napoleon, soliciting 
him to extend his powerful protection over the 
cradle of Polish liberty. 

The deputation was admitted to Napoleon the 
night before his departure from Wilna. They sub- 
mitted to him the act of confederation, of which we 
have just spoken. The conqueror gave them eva- 
sive promises. Perhaps he was offended that the 
noble Polish nation had not thrown itself at his ieet, 
to obtain the honour of becoming a part of the great 
empire. The liberty which they demanded, appear- 
ed to disquiet and to surprise him. He feared that 
the assembly which he had convoked, and which 
seemed now so willing to second his views, might, 
hereafter prove less submissive to his wishes. It is 
the peculiar character of tyrants, to be suspicious 
even when they are doing good ; to take umbrage 
at the objects of their own protection ; and to be 
alarmed at the independence of others even if it has 
been their own work. Napoleon, therefore, made 



WILNA. 45 

no decisive promises, but exacted, as preliminaries, 
enormous sacrifices, and a devotion to his interest, 
with which the Polanders could not comply, with- 
out putting to the hazard their hopes of future hap- 
piness. He demanded that the provinces subjected 
to Russia, should declare themselves against her, 
even before his arrival, and that Gallicia should 
form no part of the confederation, because he had 
guaranteed to Austria the integrity of her states. 

If all these extensive projects had been conceived 
by a prudent head, more anxious for the welfare of 
mankind, than the gratification of its own ambition, 
there is no doubt that, although gigantic, they 
might have been realized. Napoleon had attained 
so high a degree of power, that it was not necessary 
for him to resort to war to accomplish any purpose. 
By a policy prudent, skilful, and, above all, concil- 
iatory, he might have made more lasting, and even 
more extensive conquests, than he had gained by 
force of arms. Posterity will perceive that he was 
dazzled by too much prosperity, and employed 
incalculable means to accomplish his own dow^nfall, 
while he might have succeeded to the utmost of his 
wishes, without hazarding or compromising any 
thing. An enemy to whatever required patience 
and reflection, he knew nothing but force ; and 
Heaven permitted him to be crushed by that very 
power, which, till then, had been his only law. 

The brave Polanders, despairing for their coun- 
try, considered all their plans as chimerical, when 
they perceived that Napoleon, more ambitious and 
less virtuous than Charles XII, aspired at the Polish 



46 WILNA. 

crown, and only promised them his assistance, that 
he might profit by their resentment against Russia. 
Thus, that fortunate conqueror, restless, even on the 
most splendid throne of Europe, was led astray by 
the excess of his conquests, and strangely imagined 
that he could not cement his fortune better than by 
subverting the whole world, and renewing in the 
north the horrible wars of the middle age, when 
nations, exasperated against each other, delivered 
themselves up to every excess of barbarity. 



BOOK IL 



WITEPSK. 



WHILST Napoleon remained at Wilna, marshal 
Davoust proceeded to Minsk, in pursuit of prince 
Bagration, who endeavored to effect a junction with 
the army of Barclay de Tolly. By that manoeuvre 
we prevented the Russian prince from marching on 
the Dvvina, and forced him to proceed towards Mo- 
hilow on the Nieper, whither he was pursued by the 
first corps, and the cavalry of general Grouchy. All 
our other corps, which formed the centre, directed 
their course towards Dinabourg. With regard to 
the fourth corps, the two French divisions, and the 
royal guards, took the road of Paradomin in their 
march to Ochmiana ; whilst the viceroy, the division 
of Pino, and all the cavalry, marched to Rudniki. 

This latter movement was rendered necessary in 
consequence of information which we had received, 
that the Hetman Platoff, at the head of four thou- 
sand Cossacks, having been separated from the corps 
of Bagration, was expected on the road of Lida, 
w^here he would endeavour to effect a junction with 
the Russian army, which had evacuated Wilna. At 
this news the viceroy put himself in motion, but the 



48 WITEPSK, 

road to Rudniki was so bad, that the cavalry of the 
royal guard was obliged to pursue a different route. 
It is not possible to form an idea of the difficulties 
which presented themselves on that road, which was 
entirely formed of the trunks of fir-trees, placed on 
the marshy ground. The horses in passing over 
these pieces of w^ood frequently trod between them, 
and, falling in this situation, inevitably broke their 
legs. If, to avoid these difficulties, we turned to the 
right or left, we were in danger of sinking into mo- 
rasses from which there was no possibility of escape. 

The staff, after having lost some horses belonging 
to our escort, at last succeeded in extricating itself 
from this dangerous passage, and arrived at Rudniki 
in the middle of the night. The following morning 
(July oth) we marched towards Jachounoui, where 
we regained the great road. Thence we proceeded 
to Mal-Solechniki. The prince, however, w^ould 
not stop there ; but pursued his route to Bol-Solech- 
niki, where he intended to remain during the night, 
and hoped to receive some tidings of the cossacks, 
whom he had orders to pursue. The following 
day we continued our march, and arrived at a castle 
not far distant from Soubotniki. 

The viceroy was obliged to halt here, for the bad 
roads having impeded the march of the thirteenth 
and fourteenth divisions, as well as the Italian corps, 
we had nothing but the light cavalry with us. The 
order which had been sent fo/ hastening their pro- 
gress, was, by some mistake, returned to the chief of 
the staff, so that these troops having received no in- 
structions, had retained their position, while we be- 



WITEPSK. 49 

Ueved that they were following us. At length, see- 
ing that they did not arrive, some intelligent officers 
were sent out in all directions, who succeeded, after 
a long search, in extricating the division of Pino 
from the marsiies of Rudniki, and conducting the 
guard towards Ochmiana. The viceroy in the 
mean time, after having searched in vain for the 
Cossacks, returned and marched towards Jachou- 
noui, where he joined the thirteenth and fourteenth 
divisions. On the following day (July 12th), they 
all took the road towards Smorghoni, where they 
effected a junction with the rest of the troops who 
composed the fourth corps. 

The town of Smorghoni is large and populous, 
yet all the houses, with the exception of two or 
three, are built of wood. A little river, with a bridge 
thrown over it, divides the castle from the town. 
The inhabitants consist chiefly of Jews, who carry 
on considerable commerce. For this reason, though 
the town contained little that was remarkable, the 
halt which we made in it was delightful to the 
whole army, for it enabled us to procure a supply 
of bread and beer. 

During the day that we reposed at Smorghoni, 
we erected a bridge over the Narotsch, that we 
might proceed in a direct line to Vileika. But the 
work was hardly finished when the orders were 
changed, and the majority of the troops marched to 
Zachkevitschi, where they remained that night. 

The road from Zachkevitschi, to Vileika is very 
sandy, and lies through a thick forest. ^ little be- 



50 WITEPSK. 

fore we arrived here, we crossed the Wiha over u 
floating bridge. The river at this place is neither 
very broad nor deep, but its banks are extremely 
steep, particularly the one opposite Vileika. On 
entering the town, general Colbert, who command- 
ed the advanced-guard, took some magazines which 
had been abandoned ; and as a short time only had 
elapsed since the enemy had quitted that position, 
the viceroy redoubled his vigilance, for fear of a 
surprise, and selected with the utmost care, an ad- 
vantageous situation for his troops to encamp. 

Whilst we marched towards Vileika, the king of 
Naples (Murat), assisted by the second and third 
corps, drove the first western army from one position 
to another behind the Dwina, and at last forced them 
to retire into the intrenched camp of Drissa. On 
our right, prince Eckmuhl (Davoust) continued the 
pursuit of prince Bagration, and arrived without 
fighting as far as Borisow, on tiie Berezina. On 
our left the marshal duke of Tarentum likewise ob- 
tained important advantages and took entire pos- 
session of Samogitia. 

The conduct of the enemy in thus continually 
flying before us was accounted for in different ways. 
Some thought it was the effect of weakness, others 
believed it to be the result of a well-digested plan. 
' What is become of those Russians,' asked the for- 
mer, ' who, for more than fifty years, have been the 
terror of Europe, and the conquerors of Asia ? The 
power of Russia seems to be merely fictitious, in- 
vented bv hirelinsi; writers, and deceitful travellers. 



WITEPSK. 51 

It exists only in imagination, and the phantom van- 
ishes the moment we attack it.' They, however, 
whom experience had taught to wait the result of 
time, affirmed that it was unwise to despise an ene- 
my whom we had not yet combatted ; that his flight 
was calculated to diminish our force, and to deprive 
us of the means of recruiting it, by drawing us fur- 
ther from our own country. ' The Russians,' added 
these intelligent reasoners, ' derive their most pow- 
erful succours from their climate. Why should they 
seek to fight us when they know that the winter will 
compel us to abandon all our conquests ?' 

At last the Russians themselves explained the 
motives of their retreat, by the following proclama- 
tion distributed on the borders of the Dwioa :— - 

° FRENCH SOLDIERS ! 

^ You are forced to march to a new war. You 
are told that it is because the Russians do not render 
justice to your valour. No, comrades, they truly 
appreciate it. You will see it on the day of battle. 
Consider that if it be necessary, army will succeed 
to army, and that you are four hundred leagues from 
your resources. Do not allow yourselves to be de- 
ceived by our first movements. You know the Rus- 
sians too well to suppose that they fly before you. 
In proper time they will accept the combat, and you 
will find it difficult to retreat. We advise you as 
fellow-soldiers, to return in a body to your native 
country. Do not believe the perfidious suggestion 
that you are fighting for peace. You shed your 



52 WITEPSK. 

blood to gratify the insatiable ambition of a sove- 
reign who does not wish for peace. He might have 
obtained it long ago ; but he sports with the lives of 
his brave subjects. Return to your homes, or if you 
wish it, seek an asylum in Russia ; there you will 
forget the names of conscription, levies, bans and 
arriere-bans, and that military tyranny which does 
not allow you for one minute to shake off the op- 
pressive yoke.' 

This proclamation contained such palpable truths, 
that its publication astonished every one. Some, 
however, regarded it as a forgery, and thought that 
it was written to prepare the way for that despicable 
answer of a French grenadier^ which would certainly 
have become a subject of pleasantry to the army, 
and of contempt to foreigners, if we had not long 
known that an implicit obedience to his chief is the 
first duty of a soldier ; and that every Frenchman, 
faithful to his banners, esteemed it a point of honour 
strenuously to combat all those whom his comman- 
ders should represent as the enemies of his country. 

Continuing our march we arrived at Kostenevit- 
schi, a miserable little village, where, excepting the 
post-house and vicarage, there were only a few 
wretched barns covered with thatch. The royal 
guard encamped round the village, but the viceroy 
established his head-quarters two leagues further on. 

The following day (July 17), after a march of 
five leagues over a tolerably good road, we reached 
the town of Dolghinow, the inhabitants of which 



WITEPSK. 53 

consisted almost entirely of Jews, a circumstance by 
which we we enabled to procure a few bottles of 
brandy. Our incessant marches, and the long period 
tluring which we had been deprived of that liquor, 
induce me to mention a circumstance apparently 
so insignificant ; but, from the importance which wc 
attached to it, the reader may judge of the extent of 
our wants, and the difficulty of supplying them. 

We proceeded thence to Dokzice, a distance of 
about seven leagues. That town the inhabitants of 
which were likewise Jews, contained a handsome 
square, near which stood a church, and a wretched 
chateau^ built of wood. The extremities of the town 
are situated on two eminences, between which runs 
a little marshy rivulet. On the day that we halted 
here we suddenly perceived a thick smoke arising 
behind the chateau in which the prince was quarter- 
ed. The flames soon spread on every side, and 
consumed in an instant several neighboring houses ; 
but the soldiers rendering the most timely and effi- 
cacious assistance, the fire was quickly subdued, 
and all our apprehensions vanished. 

Near Smorghoni we had left the road to Minsk 
and the Nieper, and had turned to the left, to ap- 
proach to Dwina, and to follow the movements of 
the centre of the grand army, which had taken that 
direction. General Sebastiani, who commanded the 
advanced-guard, assisted by the corps of the duke of 
Reggio (Oudinot), repulsed the cossacks as far as 
Drouia ; but the enemy, which was shut up in the 
intrenched camp, at Drissa, having been informed 



54) • WITEPSK. 

that our cavalry was badly guarded, threw a bridge 
over the river, and detached five thousand infantry 
and as many cavalry, commanded by general Koul- 
niew. An engagement soon commenced, and gen- 
eral Saintgeniez, being taken by surprise, was made 
prisoner, while the rest of the brigade did not escape 
without considerable loss. 

As we approached Berezina, where we intended 
to encamp that night, the road gradually descend- 
ing, brought us unawares to the river of the same 
name, which runs through one of the most marshy 
plains in Europe. We were convinced of this when 
we arrived at the town, the houses of which exten- 
ded in a long line over an absolute morass. Beyond 
Berezina the road is continued over a kind of turf, 
on which were placed a quantity of fir branches, to 
give some firmness to a mere bog. A few intervals 
were left for the waters to drain ojff. 

From the Berezina, as far as the Oula, the coun- 
try was wet and marshy. The road from one river 
to the other forms a line of twenty or twenty-five 
leagues, passing continually through marshes and 
immense forests. Gloubokoe was our first station, 
and Eamen the second. The first of these towns 
is remarkable for a beautiful castle of wood ; and 
the latter for a kind of mountain in the very centre 
of the place, which overlooks the plain. 

At Botscheikovo we approached the borders of 
the Oula (July 23d). This river is united to the Be- 
rezina by the canal of Lepel, which gives facility to 
ihe commerce of all the neighboring provinces. 



WITEPSK. 55 

This canal is yet more important, as it forms a com- 
munication between the Nieper and the Dwina ; 
and thus uniting the Baltic and the Mediterranean, 
it enlivens the intererior of Lithuania, and enriches 
her with productions of the most distant climes. 
The banks of this river are very high and steep. On 
the left side beyond the bridge, appears a magnifi- 
cent chateau^ which we thought the most beautiful 
that we had seen since our arrival in Poland. 

We could not, however, restrain our astonishment 
at the rapidity with which we were allowed to pro- 
ceed in our march without opposition. We advan- 
ced daily without any impediment, and with almost 
as much security as when we traversed Bavaria, and 
Saxony. The tranquillity in which our adversaries 
permitted us to continue was incomprehensible, and 
every one formed the most opposite and frequently 
the most erroneous conjectures. At Kamen, how- 
ever, we learned, from several officers, who had been 
sent to Ouchatsch, where the emperor was, that the 
enemy, having quitted their trenches at Drissa, had 
ascended the Dwina, towards Polotsk and Witepsk, 
through fear of being cut off by our corps, which 
had taken a direction towards the latter town. The 
orders which they brought us, made us likewise be- 
lieve that we should soon meet with considerable 
resistance. These conjectures were presently chan- 
ged into certainty when, on reconnoitering the 
mouth of the Oula, and the road to Bezenkovitschi, 
we discovered that the cossacks hovered on our 
flanks. The virerov immediately ordered the ad- 



a6 VVITEPSK, 

vanced-guard and the light cavahy, to proceed to 
Bezenkovitschi, where the Russians were assembled 
in much force, under general Osterman (July 23d), 

The prince soon afterwards mounted his horse^ 
accompanied by his aids-de-camp, and followed the 
movements of the advanced-guard. When he arri- 
ved at Bezenkovitschi, the enemy retreated, and 
crossed the Dwina with his cavalry, and some pieces 
of artillery. While we were in that town, the Rus- 
sian sharp-shooters, who were concealed in the 
houses of the village, on the opposite side of the 
river, kept up an incessant fire upon us. Colonel 
la Croix, who was passing down the principal street 
leading to the river, received a shot which broke 
his thigh. This accident produced a painful sen- 
sation through the whole army. Every one pitied 
this worthy officer, and lamented that we were 
deprived of his valuable services, by a fatality which 
frequently takes from the most deserving all power 
to distinguish themselves. After having reconnoi- 
tered the position of the enemy the viceroy returned, 
for the night, to the casUe of Botscheikovo. In 
the evening he had a long conference with general 
Dessoles, the chief of his staff, which made us pre- 
sume that we should march in the night ; but the 
order was not given till the following morning. 

(July 24th.) After five hours' march, and cross- 
ing a small river, called Svetscha, our troops arrived 
at Bezenkovitschi. This Uttle town was already 
filled with troops, particularly with the two divisions 
of cavalry under generals Bruyeres and Saint Ger- 



WITEPSK* 51 

main, who had come by the way of Oula. This 
great mass of troops marching towards Witepsk, 
terrified not the enemy, who was separated from us 
by the Dwina. His cavahy proudly manoeuvred 
and fired on our soldiers when they approached to 
seize the ferry-boat, which had been carried to the 
opjDosite shore. 

The viceroy, however, having resolved to cross 
the Dwina at this point, caused a battery of two 
pieces of cannon to be erected, to protect the sap- 
pers who had been ordered to construct a bridge, 
and the marines of the royal guard, who, plunging 
into the water, attempted to reach the boat. These 
guns, and a few sharp-shooters placed on the shore, 
intimidated the Russians so much, that they quitted 
the houses in which they had concealed themselves, 
and allowed us quietly to take back the boat, and 
to complete the bridge which the engineers were 
erecting. 

In the meantime a division of Bavarian cavalry, 
under general Preysing, having discovered a ford 
about two hundred paces below the bridge, effected 
their passage. Scarcely had they crossed the river, 
when they ranged themselves in order of battle, sup- 
ported by some companies of light troops, which 
had been sent over in the boat. In an instant they 
advanced to charge the enemy, who fled at their 
approach, setting fire to every thing which he was 
compelled to leave behind. We particularly ad- 
mired, on that occasion, the manner in which the 



58 WITEFSE. 

Bavarians advanced. The precision of their evolii*- 
tions, and the skill with which they disposed their 
out-posts, may be quoted as models for those who 
may be called to execute similar manoeuvres. 

While we were contemplating these operations^ 
it was reported that the emperor was approaching. 
The courier who had brought the news was quickly 
followed by another, who confirmed it. Soon after- 
wards arrived the saddle-horses, the officers of ord- 
nance, and the generals of the guard ; in short, the 
town, already fulLof troops, presently became abso- 
lutely crowded. In the midst of this tumult Napo- 
leon appeared. He proceeded immediately to that 
part of the river at which they were erecting the 
bridge. In a dry and sarcastic manner he blamed 
its construction, which was certainly very defective ; 
but, having determined to proceed to the other side* 
he crossed the bridge, and mounting his horse, join- 
ed the Bavarians, who had halted on the plain. 
Then marching with them, he advanced nearly two 
leagues from Bezenkovitschi. Napoleon, doubtless, 
executed this manoeuvre with a view of attracting 
the enemy's attention to this point, that he might 
find less opposition when he attacked Witepsk, on 
the opposite bank. He likewise hoped to annoy 
the Russian army in its retreat, which was now- 
ascending the Dwina, after having abandoned the 
intrenched camp at Drissa. 

It is impossible to imagine the confusion which 
reigned at Bezenkovitschi, and which increased OQ 



WITEPSK. 59 

the arrival of the staff. In the night the tumult be- 
came still more dreadful. The crowd of troops 
which flowed in from all parts, and the quickness 
with which they were ordered to proceed, left no 
doubt that we were on the eve of a battle. The 
cavalry commanded by the king of Naples (Murat) 
formed the vanguard, and the fourth corps followed 
immediately to support them. 

(July 25th). Orders were given to march to 
Ostrowno ; and the staff was on the point of setting 
out, when we heard a strong cannonade. At this 
moment an aid-de-camp of general Delzons arrived 
in great haste to inform the viceroy (Eugene Beau- 
harnois) that the enemy had been overtaken near 
Ostrowno, and that a vigorous engagement had just 
commenced. The aid-de-camp had scarcely finish- 
ed his report, when the noise of the cannon was re- 
doubled. His highness immediately commanded 
the baggage of the head-quarters to halt ; and, ac- 
companied only by his staff, hastened to Ostrowno, 
where he joined the king of Naples, who had with 
him the divisions of cavalry of Bruyeres, and Saint 
Germain, supported by the thirteenth division of 
infantry. But when they arrived at Soritza, the affair 
had already been successfully decided. Twenty 
pieces of cannon, which had fallen into our power, 
and the vast numbers of dead that were left on the 
field of battle, proved, both the resistance of the 
conquered, and the valour of the seventh and eighth 
hussars, who had on that occasion, covered them- 
selves with dorv. 



60 \ VVITEF-3K. 

It was three o'clock in the morning (July 26th) 
when the viceroy arrived at Ostrowno, with the king 
of Naples. The fourth corps were encamped near 
him, and the cavalry, placed in front, watched the 
manoeuvres of the enemy. At six o'clock his majes- 
ty and the prince, accompanied by their respective 
staffs, marched towards the out-posts, and passing 
over the ground where the engagement had taken 
place the night before, they heard that Ostermann's 
corps, consisting of two divisions, was drawn up in or- 
der of battle. The prince immediately ordered the 
thirteenth and fourteenth divisions to support the 
cavalry commanded by the king of Naples. The 
hussars who were sent out to reconnoitre, having 
met with much opposition at the entrance of a forest, 
returned with the intelligence that the enemy seem- 
ed determined to dispute our passage. We heard 
on all sides the fire of the sharp-shooters ; and the 
cannon of the Russians, placed on the road, enfila- 
ded our columns which had advanced. General 
Danthouard ordered our artillery to be brought for- 
ward without delay, and it was in this exchange of 
balls, that captain Ferrari of the eighth hussars, for- 
merly aid-de-camp to the prince of Neufchatel, had 
his leg shot off. Meanwhile, the king of Naples, 
hastening wherever his presence could be useful, 
ordered an attack to be made from our left, to dis- 
perse the enemy's cavalry, which occupied the ex- 
tremity of a wood. But, notwithstanding this ma- 
noeuvre was well planned, it had not the desired 
effect. The detachment of hussars, entrusted with 



WITEPSK. 61 

the execution of it, was too weak and was soon 
compelled, though without loss, to retreat before the 
numerous squadrons who rushed on to the charge. 

While we were thus manreuvring on our left, the 
Russians attempted to force our right. The viceroy 
perceiving it, caused the thirteenth division to pro- 
ceed towards that point, who advancing rapidly on 
the road, stopped the progress of the enemy ; and 
the artillery of our regiments, being advantageously 
placed on some eminences, made us feel certain 
that our line could not be forced. 

Our right seemed well defended, when a sudden 
attack was made, and dreadful cries w^ere heard, 
both on the left and in the centre. The enemy, 
advancing in great force, had vigorously pushed 
back our sharp-shooters, placed in the forest, and 
compelled the artillery to retire precipitately ; while 
the Russian cavalry, profiting by a little plain on 
our left, furiously charged the Croats, and the 84lh 
regiment. Happily, however, the king of Naples 
came up in time to check their progress. Two 
battalions of the 106th, which had been kept in 
reserve, supported the Croats ; while general Dan- 
thouard, in whom were united the most brilliant 
talents and undaunted bravery, seconded by colonel 
Demay, and captain Bonardelle, reanimated the 
courage of the artillery, and, by skilful evolutions, 
replaced them in the position which they had quit- 
led but for a moment. 

The affairs of the left and of the centre being re- 
established, the king of Naples and prince Eugene 



VViTEFSK. 



proceeded to the right wing and put it in motion. 
The enemy, lying in ambuscade before a forest, op- 
posed a vigorous resistance to the 92d regiment, 
which, notwithstanding its being placed on an 
advantageous eminence, remained inactive. The 
viceroy instantly despatched the adjutant-comman- 
dant Forestier, to urge them forward ; who, with 
some difficulty, succeeded in making them advance. 
Their march, however, appeared too slow to the 
impetuous valour of the duke of Abrantes (Junot). 
That intrepid general, who, in other campaigns had 
acted as commander in chief, hastily quitted the 
viceroy, and put himself at the head of this regi- 
ment, on which every eye was now fixed. His 
presence, or rather his example, electrified every 
heart ; and the brave 92d, led on by general Rous- 
sel, marched instantly to the charge, overthrew 
every thing that opposed them, and penetrated at 
last into the forest, where the enemy w^s protected 
by intrench ments almost impregnable. 

On looking to the extremity of our right, we 
perceived a Russian column, which had been sent to 
turn our flanks commencing its retreat. The king 
of Naples, with that enthusiasm which is peculiar to 
great minds, ordered the cavalry to charge upon that 
column, and to compel it to lay down its arms. The 
difficulties of the ground made the soldiers hesitate 
for a moment ; but the king, perceiving at a glance, 
that the execution must be as prompt as the thought 
itself, drew his sword from its scabbard, and eagerly 
exclaimed, ' Let the bravest follow me,^ This trait 



WITEPSK. 63 

of heroism filled us with admiration. All pressed 
forward to second him ; but deep ravines and im- 
penetrable thickets impeded our progress, and gave 
the enemy time to escape, and to rejoin the corps 
from which they had been detached. 

The success of the combat was certain ; but we 
dared not venture to cross the extensive forest be- 
fore us, on the other side of which were the hills of 
Witepsk, where we knew the forces of the enemy 
were encamped. While we were deliberating on 
the means of eifecting that important passage^ we 
heard a great tumult behind us. No one could 
guess the cause, and uneasiness was added to our 
curiosity ; but when w^e perceived Napoleon sur- 
rounded by a brilliant suite, our fears were d^issipa- 
ted ; and the enthusiasm which his presenceralways 
excited, made us hope that he would add to the 
glory of that eventful day. The king of Naples and 
the prince hastened to meet him, and informed him 
of the event of the engagement, and the measures 
which they had since adopted. But Napoleon, desi- 
rous to become more intimately acquainted with 
every circumstance, quickly proceeded to the most 
advanced posts of our line, and viewed from an em- 
inence, the position of the enemy, and the nature of 
the ground. His eye penetrated into the Russian 
camp. He guessed their plans, and immediately 
ordered new dispositions, which being executed with 
precision and rapidity, the army was soon in the mid- 
dle of the forest. We followed at a quick pace and 
reached the hills of Witepsk as the day began to close. 



64 wilEPSiv. 

The thirteenth division, which assisted in this 
manoeuvre, experienced much resistance from the 
enemy in crossing the woods. He retired slowly, 
and disputed every step ; while his numerous sharp- 
shooters made us pay dearly for the ground which 
we had gained. It was in one of these unfortunate 
recontres, that a Russian dragoon, coming up to 
general Roussel, fired at him with a pistol, and killed 
him on the spot. As the Russians seldom place 
dragoons among their sharp-shooters, it occasioned 
the report that general Roussel had been murdered 
by one of our own men ; but we were afterwards as- 
sured that we had not to reproach ourselves with the 
death of that brave general, who was truly worthy 
of our regret, both on account of his military quali- 
ties and his private virtues. 

Brussier's division (the fourteenth) followed the 
great road, and arrived very late at the position 
which had been appointed for it between the road 
and the Dwina. The fifteenth division and the Ital- 
ian guard, forming the rest of the infantry of the 
fourth corps, were left in reserve, a little behind the 
fourteenth. 

After the different corps had taken their respec- 
tive positions. Napoleon established his head-quar- 
ters in the village of Kqukoviatschi. The king of 
Naples and prince Eugene were encamped in an 
uncomfortable little chateau near the village of Do- 
brijka, surrounded by the corps under their com- 
mand. 



WITEPSK. Q5 

On the following morning, at the dawn of day. 
(July 27th) our troops marched towards Witepsk. 
The Russians, retiring on that town, fired some 
cannon, which, however, did ns little injury. They 
afterwards occupied a large plain near the town, 
which commanded the roads by which we could 
approach. We could easily observe the lines of the 
enemy from the hill on Avhich we were placed, and 
particularly his numerous cavalry, arranged in order 
of battle at the extremity of the plain. 

The division of Broussier, constituting the ad- 
vanced-guard, crossed, by means of a miserable 
bridge, the rivulet which separated us from the plain, 
and drew up on a height opposite the eminence, 
which was occupied by the Russians. The six- 
teenth regiment of chasseurs, having descended the 
hill, was vigorously charged by several squadrons 
of the cossack-guard, and it would have experien- 
ced a total defeat, if it had not been disengaged 
from the enemy, towards the left, by the light troops 
of the ninth regiment, commanded by captains 
Guyard and Savary. These brave men attracted, 
on this occasion, the attention of the whole army, 
which, encamped on the surrounding heights, as on 
an amphitheatre, witnessed their exploits, and ren- 
dered them the applause that was justly due to their 
valour. 

The sixteenth chasseurs, retiring upon the four- 
teenth division, were protected by the 53d regiment^ 
commanded by colonel Grosbon. That division 
forming a square, presented to the enemy an impe- 
9 



66 WITEPSE. 

iieti'able front, and all their repeated and furious at- 
tempts to break it, proved ineffectual. This cir- 
cumstance threw a little confusion into our ranks ; 
but Napoleon being at hand, it could not continue. 
Placed on an eminence, from which he could see all 
the manoeuvres, he calmly made every disposition 
which he thought was necessary to secure the vic- 
tory. He ordered a regiment of cavalry to retire, 
to open the passage of the bridge to the thirteenth 
division. This retrograde movement spread terror 
amongst our train, which was composed of work- 
men, sutlers and victuallers, a class of people who 
are easily alarmed ; and who, always afraid of los- 
ing their booty, are rather prejudicial than useful to 
an army. 

The thirteenth division having advanced, filed to 
the right. The viceroy marched at their head, and 
conducted them behind the fourteenth division, to an 
eminence which overlooked the plain on which the 
enemy was encamped. 

These heights, not being guarded, we advanced 
without difficulty, and took our position on the sum- 
mit, opposite the Russian camp, separated only by 
the river Louichesa, the steep shores of which form- 
ed a ravine so deep, that it was impossible to come 
to a general action. We pretended, however, to com- 
mence the engagement by detaching some light 
troops, who succeeded in passing over the ravine, and 
established themselves in a little wood. Biit not 
being supported, they proceeded no further, and re- 
turned to their corps, as soon as the fire of the batte- . 



AVITEPSK. 67 

lies had ceased, and the divisions were no longer 
under arms. 

This suspension, when the armies were in sight 
of each other, excited universal astonishment, and 
every one enquired, ^ Where is the emperor ? 
What are his intentions ?' 

During these discussions we were joined by the 
first corps, and the imperial guard. Some thought 
that Napoleon waited for the junction of all his forces 
before he began a serious attack ; others affirmed that 
marshal Ney, and the cavalry of general Montbrun, 
advancing from the other side of the Dwina, would 
turn the position at Witepsk, and thus cut off the 
retreat of the Russians. But this manoeuvre was, 
doubtless, impracticable, since it was not executed. 

On that night the troops bivouaced on the places 
where they had taken their positions, and the soldiers 
of the different corps, mingling together, related to 
each other the share which their respective divisions 
had borne in the honor of the day. From these ac- 
counts it appeared, that the combat, though glorious, 
had not been bloody. Amongst the small number 
who were killed, was the ingenious colonel Liedot, a 
man truly worthy of the corps to which he belonged. 
During the expedition to Egypt, he distinguished 
himself by his courage ; and in the construction of 
some fortifications in Italy, he proved that the 
military art is no obstacle to the developement of 
the most profound conceptions. 

The boldness with which the Russians retained 
their positions, and the junction of a great part of 



68 WIlEPSIt. 

our troops at the same point, induced us to believe 
that a general action would take place on the follow- 
ing day. What was, therefore, our astonishment, 
when we perceived at the dawn of day (July 28th) 
that the enemy had effected his retreat ! Our whole 
army went immediately in pursuit, except the im- 
perial guard, which was established at Witepsk, 
w^here the emperor seemed inclined to remain. 

This town, the capital of the government of that 
name, situated on a plain between some rising 
ground, and the shores of the Dwina, contained 
twenty thousand inhabitants, and presented, from 
the beauty of its situation, a most delightful aspect. 
Poland and Lithuania had, during more than two 
months, and through a space of more than three 
hundred leagues, offered nothing to our view but 
deserted villages, and a ravaged country. Destruc- 
tion seemed to precede our steps and in every di- 
rection the whole population was seen flying at our 
approach, leaving their habitations to hordes of cos- 
sacks, who destroyed every thing which they could 
not carry away. Having long experienced the most 
painful deprivations, we regarded with envious eyes, 
those well-built and elegant houses where peace 
and abundance seemed to dwell. But that repose 
which we had so eagerly anticipated, was again 
denied us, and we were compelled to renew our 
pursuit of the Russians, leaving on our left this town, 
the object of our most ardent wishes and our dear- 
est hopes. 

As we followed the movement of the advanced 



VVITEPSK, 



69 



guard, we were astonished at perceiving the perfect 
order with which count Barclay de Tolly had evac- 
uated his position. We wandered in all directions 
over an immense plain, without perceiving the faint- 
est trace of his retreat. Not one carriage, not a sin- 
gle dead horse, not even a solitary vehicle, indicated 
the road which the enemy had taken. While we 
remained in this uncertainty, which, perhaps, was 
without a parallel, colonel Klisti, scouring the neigh- 
bouring country to endeavour to find some peasant, 
discovered a Russian soldier sleeping under a bush. 
This rencontre was extremely fortunate, and the 
viceroy profiting by it, questioned the prisoner, who 
gave us some information as to the route that the 
column to which he belonged had taken. 

The prince, doubting the accuracy of the intelli- 
gence, advanced to reconnoitre, but not having met 
with any thing worthy of attention, we returned at 
full speed towards the high road which leads from 
Witepsk to the source of the Dvvina. The whole 
road was covered with cavalry. The king of Na- 
ples soon joined the viceroy, and after some consul- 
tation, they ordered their respective corps to proceed. 
The heat was excessive, and the clouds of dust rais- 
ed by the horses rendered our march insupportably 
fatiguing. We were soon obliged to step, and halt- 
ed at a church built of wood, where the king of Na- 
ples and the prince had a long conference together. 

The cavalry had filed off in pursuit of the Russian 
army, and we soon heard that they had come up with 
them. The rest of the troops immediately hastened 
their march and overtook the enemy. The cossacks 



70 wiTErsK. 

Tvho formed the rear-guard retreated on the advance 
of our artillery, anS only halted to fire a few cannon 
shot whenever they found a favourable opportunity. 
They continued manoeuvring till they were beyond 
Aghaponovchtchina, where our corps and the cav- 
alry encamped. Near this village, on an eminence 
towards the left, was a wretched chateau built of 
wood, where the emperor (who, being informed that 
we had overtaken the Russians, immediately left 
Witepsk to join us) established his quarters. 

Never did a bivouac present a more military ap- 
pearance than ours at Aghaponovchtchina. Napo- 
leon, the king of Naples and the prince, were in 
one tent. The generals, placed in miserable huts 
which their soldiers had hastily constructed, were 
encamped with their officers by the side of a rivulet, 
the miry water of which was preserved with the 
greatest care. During the three days that we had 
been on the field of battle, water and rools had 
constituted our only nourishment. Our divisions 
were encamped on the eminences which surround- 
ed the chateau^ and the enemy could see our nume- 
rous fires, the brilliant light of which dissipated the 
obscurity of the night. 

Early on the following morning (July 29th) we 
again proceeded in search of the Russians. The 
emperor, however, returned to Witepsk, where he 
proposed to remain a sufficient time to execute his 
plans relative to Lithuania. When the king of Na- 
ples arrived at the separation of the roads of Jano- 
witchi and Sourai, he left us, taking with him the 
whole heavy cavalry, and the fourteenth division. 



WITEPSK. 71 ' 

The viceroy, still pursuing his way, marched towards 
the Dwina, followed by the thirteenth and fifteenth 
divisions, the royal guard, and the brigade of light 
cavalry commanded by general Villasa. 

We were on the point of entering Sourai when 
we were informed by some chasseurs that an ene- 
my's convoy, feebly escorted, was endeavouring to 
pass the river to arrive at the road to Weliki-luki. 
The viceroy immediately ordered his aid-de-camp, 
Deseve, to follow the chasseurs, and seize on the 
convoy. This order was fully executed : for, after 
two hours, the aid-de-camp returned with the intel- 
ligence that the convoy was ours. 

The town of Sourai, although entirely built of 
wood, was the best that we had seen. Its popula- 
tion, consisting chiefly of Jews, was considerable, 
and their industry procured us many comforts of 
which we stood in the greatest need. The maga- 
zines were tolerably filled, which was, in truth, a 
fortunate circumstance, for every thing seemed to 
indicate that we should make some stay in this lit- 
tle town. 

Sourai, without being a military position, was a 
very important place. It is situated at the junction 
of the Casplia with the Dwina, and at the point 
where the high roads to Petersburgh and Moscow 
divide. These form two tctes-de-pont, which per- 
fectly command the road to Witepsk. During our 
stay here several geographical engineers arrived, 
and executed some plans of the river and the sur- 
rounding country. 



72 WITEPSK, 

The thirteenth division which had followed us^ 
was encamped about a league behind Soiirai ; a 
part of the fifteenth, and the foot-guard, were quar- 
tered in the town. The horse guard, commanded 
by general Triaire, proceeded to the other side of 
the Dwina, and sent off a strong detachment on the 
road to Weliki-luki. During that march, the adju- 
tant of the palace, Boutarel, discovered that the road, 
as far as Ousviat, formed a continued defile across 
the woods. In the immediate vicjnity of that small 
town, the country was totally different, and the pro- 
visions which the dragoons brought from that expe- 
dition, proved that this neighbourhood offered abun- 
dant resources for the cantonment of the troops. 

On our arrival at Sourai, the viceroy being infor- 
med that another Russian convoy, with a strong 
escort had taken the road towards Veliz, ordered 
Baron Banco, colonel of the second regiment of Ital- 
ian chasseurs, to take with him two hundred chosen 
men, and proceed immediately in pursuit. After 
nine hours' march, this detachment arrived at Veliz, 
just as the convoy was issuing from the town, and 
crossing the bridge over the Dwina. The chasseurs 
instantly charged the escort. Five times they were 
repulsed by the infantry, and by mimerous detach- 
ments of cavalry, much stronger than their own. 
But the bravery of the Itahans triumphed at length 
over the obstinate resistance of the enemy, and they 
succeeded in taking all the baggage, and compel- 
ling five hundred Russians to lay down their arms. 
This victory cost us some wounded men ; among 



WITEPSK. 73 

these were six officers, one of whom died of his 
wounds. 

While Napoleon was at Witepsk, endeavoring to 
organize Lithuania, and the centre of the army was 
inactive between the Nieper and the Dwina, we 
learned that the prince of Eckmuhl (Davoiist) had 
been attacked at Mohilow. Bagration, profiting by 
the leisure which the combat at Borisow had allow- 
ed him, crossed the Berezina at Bobruisk, and 
marched towards Novoi-Bickow. On the 23d July, 
three hundred cossacks attacked us, at the dawn of 
day, and took about a hundred prisoners from the 
third chasseurs, among whom was the colonel. An 
alarm was spread in our camp. The drum was beat, 
and our soldiers flew to arms. The Russian gene- 
ral Sicverse, with two chosen divisions, directed all 
the attacks. From eight in the morning until live 
in the evening the firing continued on the skirts of 
the forest and on the bridge which the Russians 
wished to force. At five o'clock the prince of Eck- 
muhl caused three chosen battalions to advance ] 
he placed himself at their head, overthrew the Rus- 
sians, forced their position, and pursued them more 
than a league. The loss must have been equal on 
both sides, but prince Bagration, satisfied with the 
reconnaisance which he had made, retired on Bick- 
ow, where he crossed the Nieper and proceeded to 
Smolensko, at which place the two Russian armies 
were to form a junction. 

General Kamenski, with two divisions, endeav- 
oured to join prince Bagration ; but, being unable 
10 



WITEPSJi. 



to effect it, Jie returned to Wolhynia, and uniting 
himself to the ninth and fifteenth divisions, formed 
by count Markoff, and then commanded by general 
Tormasow. These four divisions, forming a consid- 
erable army, marched tovs^ards Kobrin, and attached 
themselves ta the seventh corps. They surrounded 
the Saxon general Klengel, who had with him only 
two regiments of infantry, and two squadrons of 
cavalry. Obliged to yield to superior force, he did 
not surrender till after an obstinate combat, hoping^ 
to the last, that he might be reinforced by general 
Regnier ; but that officer, though he advanced as 
rapidly as possible, did not arrive till the capitulation 
had been signed more than two hours. 

Notwithstanding we sustained these losses on our 
right, the successes of our left wing more than 
counterbalanced them. The duke of Tarentum, 
commanding the Prussian corps, pushed forward 
several strong detachments on the road to Riga, and 
by the skilful dispositions of generals Grawert and 
Kleist, gained very signal advantages over the Rus- 
sians. A few days afterwards, general Ricard took 
Dunabourg, which the enemy had abandoned, after 
having made great preparations for its defence. 
But the enterprise most glorious to our arms, was 
performed by the second corps. The duke of Reg- 
gio (Oudinot) having pushed forward his advanced 
guard towards Sebei, met prince Wittgenstein, who 
having been previously reinforced by the corps of 
prince Repnin, furiously attacked him. The en- 
gagement took place near the castle Jakoubovo* 



VVITEPSK« 75 

The division of Legrancl sustained a severe engage- 
ment till ten o'clock at night, when, by the valour 
of the 26th light infantry, and the 56th of the linej 
the Russians were repulsed with considerable loss. 
Notwithstanding this, they ventured on the morrow 
to attempt the passage of the Dwina. The duke of 
Reggio (Oudinot) ordered general Castex not to op- 
pose them. The enemy fell into the snare, and on 
the 1 st of August, advancing towards Drissa, drew 
up in order of battle, facing the second corps. Fif- 
teen thousand men, forming half of Wittgenstein's 
army, had crossed the river, when a masked battery 
of forty pieces of cannon was opened upon them, 
and kept up a constant and destructive fire for half 
an hour. At the same moment the division of Le- 
grand advanced to the attack, and the enemy begin- 
ning to fall into confusion, the division of Verdier 
made a furious and irresistible charge with fixed 
bayonets. The Russians were driven into the river. 
Three thousand men, and fourteen pieces of cannon 
remained in our power. Pursuing their scattered 
troops on the road to Sebei, we counted two thou- 
sand dead, among whom was general Koulniew, a 
very distinguished officer of the light troops. 

At that time a rumour was spread, that the empe- 
ror Alexander had been assassinated at Veliki-luki 
by his courtiers, who were indignant at his oflfering 
to treat with us. It was asserted that Napoleon had 
exultingly announced this as a positive fact at one of 
his audiences at Witepsk. We afterwards ascer- 
tained, that this false report had been circulated to 



76 VVITEPSK. 

counteract the effect of the energetic proclamation 
which the emperor Alexander had issued to the 
Russian people ; in which he had commanded eve- 
ry inhabitant of his immense empire to take arms 
against a perfidious enemj, who, after having viola- 
ted the boundaries of their country, was advancing 
to destroy their ancient capital, and to annihilate 
the glory of its illustrious founders. All these infa- 
mous falsehoods completely failed of success. They 
did not even reach a population, which, flying at 
the approach of the French army, could neither ex- 
perience the effects of an artifice so mean, nor be 
corrupted hy our flattering promises. In truth, 
the object of every promise made by our deceitful 
chief was to delude and to betray ; it was to kindle 
the most frightful discord, by exciting the people 
against the nobility ; and stifling in their hearts that 
faithful attachment which was due to their lawful 
sovereigUc 



BOOK III 



SMOLENSKO. 



AFTER the battle of Veliz, the viceroy feeling 
the necessity of reinforcing the detachment of chasr 
seiirs that had been left there, reinforced them with 
the whole brigade of general Villata and Avith one 
battalion of Dalmatians. Veliz, situated at the junc- 
tion of two principal roads, from Petersburg and 
Smolensko, was exposed to the frequent attacks of 
the Cossacks ; it was also the extreme point to which 
the French army had penetrated. The population 
of this small town, consisting entirely of Jews, pro- 
cured us little more than enough to supply the abso- 
lute necessities of life. The environs contained 
only a few miserable hovels. While the soldiers 
gave themselves up to the indulgencies which such 
circumstances could afford, colonel Banco, who per- 
fectly understood the Russian language, was infor- 
med by some spies, that the enemy intended to at- 
tack the brigade. On receiving this intelligence, 
general Villata secretly made every proper disposi- 
tion to repel the enemy, while he publicly affected 
to think himself in complete security. At daybreak 
the Cossacks suddenly appeared before the town, 
hoping to find the garrison buried in sleep : but the 



yS SMOLENSKO. 

Dalmatians, who were under arms, issuing from 
their ambuscade, fired a well directed volley on 
them, which did considerable execution. The en- 
emy, frightened by this unexpected reception, im- 
mediately took to flight, and abandoned the hope 
of surprising a town so bravely defended. The sol- 
diers showed themselves on this occasion, worthy 
of the rewards which their former valour had procu- 
red them. 

The fourth corps, after resting ten days in the 
town of Sourai, marched on the 9th of August, to- 
wards Janowitschi, to join the fourteenth division. 
On the evening before this movement took place, 
colonel Labedoyere, aid-de-camp to prince Eugene, 
was sent to the king of Naples. At his return from 
his mission, he confirmed the news of a desperate 
engagement having taken place between the enemy 
and our troops, under general Sebastiani, near In- 
kovo, in which we had been defeated with conside- 
rable loss. The reports of the different officers 
agreed that our cavalry had severely suffered, and 
that, besides several pieces of cannon, a fine light 
company of the 24th infantry had been captured. 
It was likewise said, that had it not been for the 
bravery of the Polish lancers, our losses would have 
been infinitely greater. On this occasion, some bla- 
med general Sebastiani ; but the greater part attrib- 
uted the fault to general Montbrun, who disregard- 
ing the information he had received, and urged on 
hy his natural bravery, had hazarded a battle 
against a much superior force of the enemy. 



-smolen3k:o. 79* 

The viceroy having halted on the 10th of August 
at Janowitschi, the pioneers of the fourth corps, un- 
der the direction of general Poitevin, endeavoured 
to repair the bridge over the little river that passes 
through the town. It was, however, so completely 
out of condition, that they were obliged to abandon 
it, and the baggage and cavalry passed the river at 
a ford where the bottom was very muddy, and the 
banks exceedingly steep. 

On our march towards Liozna, we crossed a plain 
gently undulated with little hillocks. We after- 
wards passed several small woods, and a rivulet that 
runs near a hamlet situated about half way to the 
castle of Veleclikovitschi, where the army arrived 
on the 11th of August, and the soldiers encamped 
on the heights which surround the chateau. The 
following day the road was dreadfully miry, as far 
as Liozna, and leading through wet and marshy 
meadows, it presented almost insuperable obstacles 
to our convoys, and particularly to our artillery ; it is 
true, that two days before it had rained abundantly^ 
I should remark that these were the only violent 
storms which we experienced ; for, during the rest 
of the campaign, we were very little incommoded 
by rain. 

Near Liozna, a large and dirty village, we crossed 
(August the 12th) a wretched bridge thrown over a 
deep and winding river, which separates the town 
from the chateau^ at the distance of three quarters of 
a mile tow^ards the west, where prince Eugene had 
©stablished his quarters. But a communication was 



80 SMbLEiNSKO. 

established by means of another bridge. Our troops 
availed themselves of the camp that had been form- 
ed by the duke of Elchingen's (Ney's) corps, and 
which was situated near this bridge, between the 
town and the chateau. 

Several obstacles arising from the nature of the 
country, prevented us from taking the direct road to 
Liouvavitschi ; and even the road which we pursued 
^vas not exempt from difficulties. We were forced 
to pass through several defiles, and over many 
swampy meadows, and to cross roads which were 
cut through the middle of the forest. We arrived at 
last at Louvavitschi, the approaches to which were 
as miry as the interior of Liozna. 

This town was composed of a great many wTetch- 
ed houses built entirely of wood. To arrive there, 
we crossed a ruinous bridge. The road was so 
dreadfully deep and clayey, that it was with the 
utmost difficulty the horses could proceed. These 
unwholesome marshes are the result of the situation 
of Liouvavitschi. Several rivers surround the town, 
and form extensive and dangerous morasses, which 
never dry. 

As we entered Liouvavitschi, v\^e saw all the cav- 
alry of the king of Naples returning from the envi- 
rons of Roudnia and Inkovo ; but, instead of follow- 
ing the road to Razasna, they turned to the left, to 
pass the Nieper at a higher point than that which 
had been marked out for us. 

The thirteenth and fourteenth divisions encamp- 
sd before the town : the fifteenth remained on the 



3MOLENSKO. 81 

heights which were to the left, with the cavalry of 
the ItaUan guard ; while the infantry of the same 
guard, being generally stationed at the head-quar- 
ters, encamped in the suburbs near the chateau oc- 
cupied by the viceroy. 

The re-union of the whole army on the borders of 
the Nieper, plainly announced the intention of cros- 
sing that river, and attacking Smolensko by the left 
bank, the fortified part of which city was on this 
side. The order was, in fact, to go to Razasna, 
where bridges had been thrown across to facilitate 
the passage. 

Before our arrival at this river, we passed over an 
almost desert country. No village was to be seen 
on the road, and we rarely found any houses at 
which it was possible to stop. About half way on 
our route, was a dangerous marsh, where we w^ere 
forced to leave part of our baggage. After many 
difficulties, we reached the Nieper, which is called 
also the Borysthenes by the Greeks, a name which 
excited in our minds the sublimest ideas. The illu- 
sion, however, was soon destroyed, w^ien we saw a 
shallow and insignificant stream. The river is so 
narrovt^, and its banks so steep, that it was not seen 
till we were on its very brink ; while the very steep- 
ness of the banks renders the passage extremely 
difficult. 

Near Razasna, all the different corps of the grand 
army, some coming from Orcha, and others from 
Babinovitschi, effected their junction. This im- 
mense crowd of men thronging to the same point 

11 



X52 SMOLENSKO. 

while it augmented our privations, redoubled the 
confusion and disorder that reigned on the great 
road. The stragglers sought in vain to recover 
their proper regiments. They who were entrusted 
with the most important orders, could not fulfil their 
mission, so much were the roads encumbered. 
Hence arose a dreadful tumult on the bridges and 
in the defiles. 

The fourth corps having arrived (August the 
15th) at a small town called Liadoui (remarkable 
as being the last place where we found any Jews), 
we crossed a little river very near it, above which 
is a considerable eminence which entirely com- 
mands the town. We continued our march as far 
as Siniaki, a miserable hamlet, consisting only of a 
few houses, and situated about two hundred yard? 
from the road. The viceroy intending to encamp 
in this place, gave orders for the troops to halt. In 
the meantime, the other divisions of the grand army 
marched towards Smolensko, and the cannonade 
which we heard made us presume that the town 
was vigorously attacked. 

The next day (August the 16th) we remained in 
the same position, and during the whole of the day. 
great numbers of troops passed by us towards the 
city. Towards six o'clock in the evening we quit- 
ted Siniaki, and after three hours march arrived at 
Krasnoe, a small town with some houses built of 
stone, and where the viceroy established his posts 
of communication. We did not, however, stop 
here, but continuing our march, crossed a small 



SMOLEN.SKO. 83 

river near Katova, above which was a rising ground. 
The prince pitched his tent under a large avenue of 
trees surrounded by his division. At day break 
(August the 17th) we continued our route, and biv- 
ouacked as before, three miles beyond the post of 
Korouitnia in a wood of birch trees near a lake. 
Our camp offered a most picturesque appearance. 
The viceroy having caused his tent to be pitched 
in the middle of the wood, the officers slept in their 
carriages, and those who had none, cut down bran- 
ches of trees to construct little huts, whilst their 
comrades lighted the fires to cook the provisions. 
As for the soldiers, some went on a foraging party, 
others washed their linen on the banks of a limpid 
stream, while the rest, after a long march, amused 
themselves in making war against the few ducks 
and geese that had escaped the rapacity of the cos- 
sacks. 

We here learned that Smolensko, after a long 
contested battle had been set on fire by the Rus- 
sians, and abandoned to their conquerors. This 
was an omen of mournful presage to us, and proved 
to what extremities they will proceed who are de- 
termined not to bow to a foreign yoke. The next 
day we approached this unhappy town ; but the 
viceroy ordered us to halt in a wood, near the castle 
of Novoidwor, about three miles from the town, and 
went to join the emperor. 

I was encamped with the whole of the fourth 
corps, in this thick forest, when one of my comrades 
returning from Smolensko detailed to me, in the fol- 



b* SMOLENSKO. 

lowing words, the circumstances of the battle at 
which he was present. 

^ The position that we had occupied until the 
13th of this month, made the enemy suppose that 
we should attack Smolensko by the right bank of 
the Borysthenes, but the emperor, by a prompt and 
unexpected manoeuvre, caused the whole of the ar- 
my to pass to the opposite side. The same day the 
king of Naples (Murat) who still commanded the 
advanced-guard, and supported by the duke of El- 
chingen (Ney) arrived at Krasnoe, and, as you know 
already,' said the officer to me, ' gave battle to the 
twenty-fifth Russian division, amounting to five thou- 
sand infantry, and two thousand cavalry. In this 
gallant affair we took several pieces of cannon, and 
some prisoners. After this success. Napoleon, as 
early as the 16th, in the morning, appeared before 
Smolensko. This town is surrounded by an ancient 
wall, with battlements of eight thousand yards in 
circumference, ten feet thick, and twenty-five high, 
and at certain distances, flanked with enormous 
towers in the form of bastions, the greater part of 
which were mounted with heavy pieces of cannon. 

^ The Russians still expecting the attack to take 
place on the right bank of the Borysthenes, kept a 
considerable portion of their troops on that side of 
the river ', but when they saw us arrive by the left 
bank, they thought themselves turned, and retreated 
with the utmost rapidity to defend Smolensko, by 
the principal point at which we were about to attack 
them. They maintained themselves with the greater 



3M0LENSK0. B5 

obstinacy, as Alexander, when he quitted the army, 
had recommended them to give battle in order to 
save Smolensko.* 

' After employing the 16th in reconnoitring the 
place and its environs, the emperor confided the 
left to the duke of Elchingen (Ney) inclining to- 
wards the Borysthenes ; the prince of Eckmuhl 
(Davoust) had the centre ; the prince Poniatowski 
the right ; and farther on was the cavalry of the 
king of Naples • while the gunrd and ourselves con- 
stituting the fourth division composed the reserve. 
The eighth corps, under the command of the duke 
of Abrantes (Junot) was also expected ; but that 
general, making a false movement, lost his way.f 

^ Half the day was passed in reconnoitring. The 
enemy occupied Smolensko with thirty thousand 
men, the rest were in reserve on the right bank, 
communicating by means of bridges, constructed 
below the town. But Napoleon, perceiving that the 
garrison availed themselves of every moment of time 
to strengthen their fortifications, ordered prince Po- 
niatowski to advance, having on his left Smolensko, 
and on his right the Borysthenes, He recommend- 
ed him to construct some batteries to destroy the 
bridges, and by that means intercept the communi- 
cation between the two banks. The prince of Eck- 
muhl (Davoust) who still kept the centre, attacked 
two intrenched suburbs, each defended by seven or 

* See the Thirteenth Bulletin. 
t See the Thirteenth Bulletin. 



86 SMOLErvSKO. 

eight thousand infantry. General Friand finished 
the investiture of the place, taking his position be- 
tween the first division and the Poles. 

' Towards mid-day the light cavalry of general 
Bruyeres repulsed the Russian horse, and took pos- 
session of an eminence near the bridge. On that 
point was established a battery of sixty pieces of 
cannon, the fire of which was so well directed on 
the divisions of the enemy which remained on the 
other bank, that they were compelled to retire. 
Against this battery were opposed two of the ene- 
my's consisting each of twenty pieces of cannon. 
The prince of Eckmuhl (Davoust) who was charged 
with the storming of the town, confided the attack 
of the suburbs on the right, to general Morand ; and 
those on the left to general Gudin. After a severe 
fire of musketry, these two divisions forced the posi- 
tions of the enemy, and followed them with wonder- 
ful intrepidity as far as the covered way, which they 
found strewed with dead. On the left the duke of 
Elchingen (Ney) forced the intrenchments occupied 
by the Russians, and constrained them to take refuge 
in the town, in the towers, or on the ramparts, which 
they defended with obstinacy. General Barclay de 
Tolly then perceiving that an assault on the town 
was likely to be attempted, reinforced it with two 
new divisions, and two regiments of infantry of the 
guard. The battle continued the whole of the night ; 
but soon after the evening had commenced, thick 
columns of smoke were seen to rise from different 
quarters. As the darkness increased, the flames 



9MOLENSK0. " 87 

were distinctly observed spreading with incredible 
rapidity in every direction. The whole city was 
soon on fire, and, in the middle of a fine summer's 
night, presented to our view the same spectacle that 
an eruption of Mount Vesuvius oifers to the in- 
habitants of Naples. 

^ At one o'clock the ruins of the town were aban- 
doned. Our first grenadier prepared to mount the 
breach at two o'clock in the morning, when, to their 
great surprise, they approached without opposition, 
and discovered that the place was entirely evacua- 
ted. We took possession of it, and found on the 
walls many pieces of cannon which the enemy 
could not take away. 

^ Never,' said this officer to me, ^ can you form 
an adequate idea of the dreadful scene which the 
interior of Smolensko presented to my view, and 
never during the whole course of my life can I for- 
get it. Every street, every square, was covered 
with the bodies of the Russians, dead or dying. 
The flames shed a horrible glare over them. Ah ! 
how much have those princes to answer for, who, 
merely to gratify their own ambition, expose their 
people to such calamities.' 

The next day (August 19th) we entered Smolen- 
sko, by the suburb that is built along the bank of the 
river. In every direction we marched over scatter- 
ed ruins and dead bodies. Palaces, still burning, 
offered to our sight only walls half destroyed by the 
flames, and, thick among the fragments were the 
blackened carcasses of the wretched inhabitants. 



88 SMOLENSKO. 

whom the fire had consumed. The few houses that 
remained were completely filled bj the soldiery, 
while at the door stood the miserable proprietor, 
without an asylum, deploring the death of his chil- 
dren, and the loss of his fortune. The churches 
alone afforded some consolation to the unhappy vic- 
tims, who had no other shelter. The cathedral, cel- 
ebrated through Europe, and held in great venera- 
tion by the Russians, became the refuge of the un- 
fortunate beings who had escaped the flames. In 
this church, and round its altars, were seen whole 
families extended on the ground. On one side was 
an old man just expiring, and casting a last look on 
the image of the saint whom he had all his life in- 
voked : on the other was an infant whose feeble cries 
the mother, worn down with grief, was endeavoring 
to hush, and while she presented it with the breast, 
her tears dropped fast upon it. 

In the midst of this desolation, the passage of the 
army into the interior of the town, formed a striking 
contrast. On one side was seen the abject submis- 
sion of the conquered — on the other the pride atten- 
dant upon victory ; the former had lost their all — 
the latter, rich with spoil, and ignorant of defeat, 
marched proudly on to the sound of warlike music, 
inspiring the unhappy remains of a vanquished pop- 
ulation with mingled fear and admiration. 

The grand bridge across the Nieper, which had 
been burnt, and that communicated with the other 
part of the town, in which there did not remain a 
single house, was promptly repaired. In the mean- 



SM0LEN3K0. 89 

time the cavalry of general Grouchy, with the fourth 
corps, and all their artillery crossed a ford at the 
extremity of the suburb by which we entered. In 
this interval the other bridges were constructed, 
which so accelerated the passage,.that the same day 
the artillery and cavalry of the king of Naples were 
on the road to Moscow, in pursuit of the enemy. 

All the fourth corps having succeeded in crossing 
the river, encamped on the heights that surround 
the town, near the post road from Porietsch to Pe- 
tersburgh. This was a position of the greatest im- 
portance, and every one was astonished that the 
enemy had not defended it better. Had they made 
a stand here, our march would have been conside- 
rably retarded ; the principal road to Moscow would 
have been cut off, nor could we have retained pos- 
session of the town, which this position completely 
commanded. 

While the centre of the army pursued its trium- 
phant career, general Gouvion St. Cyr gained soma 
important victories on the banks of the Dvvina. 
After the battle of Drissa, prince Wittgenstein, being 
reinforced by twelve battalions, resolved to act on 
the offensive against the duke of Reggio (Oudinot). 
The latter, seeing himself on the point of being at- 
tacked, united the Bavarian corps (the sixteenth) to 
that which he already commanded. The engage- 
ment actually took place on the 16th and 17th of 
August ; but at the moment the duke of Reggio was 
taking measures to repel it, a grape shot struck him 

in the shoulder, and so dangerously wounded him 
10 



90 ;5MOLENSKO. 

that he was compelled to quit the lieid of battle, 
and to give up the command to general Goiivion 
St. Cjr. 

The latter disposed every thing for the attack the 
next morning at day break ; and, the better to de- 
ceive the Russians, he ordered all the baggage, and 
a great part of the artillery and cavalry, to retire on 
the left bank of the Dvvina, in sight of the enemy, 
and, ascending the river, to repass it at Polotsk 
without being seen. The enemy, deceived by this 
skilful manoeuvre, believed that we were retreating, 
and advanced in pursuit ; but, instead of finding us 
disposed to quit the ground, we presented ourselves 
ranged in order of battle, and our artillery, advanta 
geously placed, commenced a destructive fire on 
them. At the same time our infantry, under tht; 
protection of our cannon, attacked the left and cen- 
tre of the corps commanded by general Wittgen- 
stein, The two divisions of generals Wrede and 
Roy, having combined their movements with great 
bravery and skill, marched out of Spas together. 
The division of Legrand, in position on the left of 
this village, was connected with that of general 
V^erdier, one of whose brigades observed the right 
of the enemy ; and the division of Merle covered 
the front of th6 town of Polotsk. 

The enemy, although surprised at seeing us so 
well disposed, advanced with great resolution, con- 
fiding in their artillery • but, towards the evening, 
prince Wittgenstein, seeing his centre and his left* 
forced, retired in echelon, aft^r furiously defending 



SMOLENSKO. 91 

every position. By this obstinate resistarice he suc- 
ceeded in saving his army, which, notwithstanding 
the arrival of powerful reinforcements, endeavored 
in vain to resume offensive operations. We should 
have taken a great number of prisoners, had not the 
woods facilitated their escape. Those who fell into 
our hands had been left wounded on the field of bat- 
tle, and by their numbers we were enabled to judge 
of the severe loss which the Russians had sustained- 
Several pieces of cannon added to the trophies of 
this glorious day. 

In truth, this victory was dearly purchased by 
the loss of several brave Bavarian officers, especially 
of generals de Roy and Sierbein. The first was par- 
ticularly regretted. The soldiers lost in him a father, 
and the officers, a chief whose talents and consum- 
mate experience were heldin veneration by the whole 
Bavarian army. Generals, officers and soldiers, ri- 
valled each other in contributing to the success of the 
day. Among the first. Count Gouvion St. Cyr ren- 
dered a just tribute of praise to generals Legrand, 
Verdier, (wounded), Merle, Von Wrede and Aubry ; 
the latter, who was general of the artillery, particular- 
ly distinguished himself in his department. The count 
closed his report by invoking the benevolence of the 
emperor towards his officers. He thus did justice to 
all except to himself, on which point he observed a 
profound silence ; but his modesty was the more con- 
spicuous, and this virtue, which belongs only to great 
minds, was a few days afterwards rewarded on the 
field of battle with a marshal's staff. 



$£ SMOLENSKO. 

While our corps on the left gained these important 
victories on the Dwina ; those of the centre distin- 
guished themselves in combats no less glorious. 

The Duke of Elchingen (Ney), having passed the 
Nieper (19th August) above Smolensko, joined the 
king of Naples in pursuit of the enemy. After march- 
ing a league, he met part of the rear-guard, consisting 
of six thousand men. Their position was carried in 
an instant, and the bayonet covered the field of 
battle with their dead. 

This corps which protected the retreat of the Rus- 
sians, having been forced hastily to retire, took post 
on the rising ground of Valantina. The first line, 
however, was broken by the eighteenth regiment, and 
towards four o'clock in the afternoon, a fire of mus- 
ketry commenced with the whole rear-guard, then 
consisting of fifteen thousand men. The duke of 
Abrantes (Junot), who had lost his way on the right of 
Smolensko, could not reach the road to Moscow time 
enough to cut off the retreat of the rear guard."'^ The 
first columns of the enemy therefore returned to the 
charge, arid brought four divisions successively into 
the field. The Russians were the more interested in 
defending this position, as, besides its real strength, it 
had always been regarded as impregnable, from the 
defeats which the Poles had uniformly sustained here 
in their ancient wars. Thence the Russians, super- 
stitiously connected with this plain, the idea of certain 
victory, and decorated it with the pompous title of 
the Sacred Field. 

* See 131b and 1 4i;Ii biillcljiis of the campaign. 



3M0LEISSK0. 93 

If the enemy attached the highest importance to the 
preservation of this position, it was not of less mo- 
ment for us to carry it, that we might be enabled 
more effectually to annoy his retreat, and to obtain 
possession of all the baggage, and the waggons with 
the wounded from Smolensko, the evacuation of 
which had been protected by the rear-guard. 

At six o'clock in the evening the division of Gudiu, 
sent to support the thirteenth corps against the nume- 
rous troops which the enemy recalled to his succour, 
appeared in column before the centre of the enemy's 
position. Supported by the division of Ledrue, they 
instantly carried it. The seventh light infantry, the 
twelfth, twenty-first, and one hundred and twenty- 
seventh, which composed the division of Gudin, 
charged with such impetuosity that the enemy im- 
mediately fled, persuaded they were engaged with 
the imperial guards. But so much bravery cost us 
the life of the gallant general who commanded them, 
He was one of the most distinguished officers in the 
army, and was equally regretted for his private 
virtues, and his mihtary skill and intrepidity. His 
death, however, was well avenged. His division 
made a dreadful carnage of the enemy, who fled 
towards Moscow, leaving the Sacred Field covered 
with their dead. Among the rest were found the 
))odies of generals Skalon and Balla ; and it was 
asserted that the general of cavalry, Koff, being 
mortally wounded, was considered by the Russians 
as a loss equally great witli that which we had to 
deplore. 



94 SMOLENSKO; 

At three o'clock on the morning of the following 
day, the emperor distributed rewards on the field of 
battle to the regiments which had distinguished 
themselves. To the one hundred and twenty-sev- 
enth, a new regiment, which had contributed much 
to the glory of the day, Napoleon granted the right 
of carrying an eagle ; a privilege which they had 
not before enjoyed, because they had not been 
present in any engagement. These rewards, be- 
stowed on a spot rendered famous by victory, and 
in the midst of the dying and the dead, exhibited a 
scene of grandeur that assimilated our exploits to 
the heroic deeds of ancient times. 

At Smolensko, the fourth corps changed the chief 
of its staff. General Dessoles, who had till then 
filled that situation, disgusted to see his services 
remain unnoticed, desired to enjoy in retirement the 
esteem which his talents had procured him. The 
army, recollecting that he had shared in the glory 
and the disgrace of Moreau, approved his determi- 
nation, well knowing the difficulty which he would 
find in obtaining a rank that could put him on a 
level with those who had outstepped him in his ca- 
reer, and who would always be preferred before him. 
The emperor, yielding to the entreaties of this skil- 
ful general, granted him an honourable retreat, and 
appointed baron Guiiieminot his successor, who 
was well known to the viceroy, by having exercised 
the same functions for a short time after the battle 
ofWaa:rao]» 



SMOLENSKO. 95 

During the four days that Napoleon remained at 
Smolensko, he reviewed the different corps which 
had distinguished themselves since the opening of the 
campaign. In this respect none was more justly en- 
titled to honorable distinction than the fourth corps. 
It was at length granted us, and the chiefs of each 
division, with the exception of general Pino, who, 
with the fifteenth, was gone to Witepsk, received 
orders to put their soldiers imder arms. (22d of 
August.) 

The whole of our army, in its best accoutre- 
ments, was draAvn up on a vast plain, a little beyond 
that on- which we were encamped. Its fine appear- « 
ance, and, above all, the recollection of the brilliant 
affair of Witepsk, gained our corps the rewards due 
to its bravery, and which were worthy of the munifi- 
cence of the chief who deigned to grant them. 

It had hitherto been believed, that Napoleon, de- 
sirous only to re-establish the kingdom of Poland^ 
would terminate his conquests by the capture of the 
the two towns of Witepsk and Smolensko, which, by 
their position, completely defended the narrow pas- 
sage comprised between the Nieper and the Dwina. 
Every one considered these towns as our destined 
winter quarters, and if the ambition of our. chief had 
suffered him to limit the operations of this campaiga 
to the taking of Riga, the fortifying of Witepsk and 
Smolensko, and, more particularly, the organization 
of Poland, the whole of which he had now conquer- 
ed, he would, doubtless, in the following spring, have 
forced the Russians either to subscribe to his condi- 



96 SMOLENSKO, 

lions, or ta run the risk of the almost certain de 
struction both of Moscow and Petersburg. But, in- 
stead of adopting so wise a plan, Napoleon, blinded 
by excess of prosperity, and at a distance of six hun- 
dred leagues from France, with worn-out horses, ahd 
destitute of provisions, magazines, or hospitals, ven- 
tured upon the great road to Moscow. As a last 
proof of his imprudence, he left in his rear a Rus- 
sian army, cantoned in Moldavia, and which was 
ready to march against us on the ratification of the 
treaty of .peace, which had been already concluded 
with the Porte. 

This army having ceased hostihties against the 
Turks, was then commanded by admiral Tschika- 
kofl', who constantly sent fresh troops to reinforce the 
army of Wolhynia, which was opposed to the corps 
of prince Schwartzenberg. Napoleon had flattered 
himself that the Austrians, in obedience to his or- 
ders, would have repulsed the corps of Tormasow, 
Ertel, and Essen, as effectually as we had beaten that 
of Barclay de Tolly, and that consequently, our al- 
lies ravaging the Ukrane, would penetrate into the 
^governments of Kiew and Kaluga, and join us on 
our entry into Moscow. But the manoeuvres of the 
Russian generals frustrated this great plan. Victors 
and vanquishetl, by turns, they defended every posi- 
tion ; and, taking advantages of the chances of war^ 
returned continually to the ground which they had 
abandoned. The fortress of Bobruisk therefore con- 
tinued to hold out, and the Austrians never saw the 
banks of the Nieper. 



SMOLENSKO. .9.7 

Leaving Smolensko (23d Angnst) wc went to 
Volodimerowa, a village situated on the main road. 
On an eminence to the right, surrounded by marshes^ 
is a chateau built of vi^ood. Arrived on this height, 
at a distance of about five leagues from Smolensko 
we halted. It was then the intention of the prince 
to march to Doukhovchtchina, and afterwards to fall 
back on Doroghobouj, where the centre of the grand 
army was quartered ; but general Grouchy, who 
had preceded us with his cavalry, announced that he 
had repulsed the enemy more than twenty leagues. 
The viceroy (24th August) who could now dispense 
with pushing on to Doukhovchtchina, determined to 
search for a path that would conduct him straight to 
the high road leading to Doroghoboui. He found 
this route after following an excellent road, traced 
by the Russians themselves, in effecting their retreat. 

On this march we traversed a fertile and luxuri- 
ant country. We saw, for the first time in Russia, 
cattle grazing in the fields, inhabitants remaining 
undisturbed in their villages, and houses that had 
not been plundered. The soldier, possessing abun- 
dance, forgot his fatigues, and regarded not the 
length of his march which continued several 
hours. At length, towards the evening we arrived 
at Pologhi, a village at a small distance from the 
road which we were seeking, On the following 
morning (25th of August) we crossed the Wop, a 
small river that would have attracted our attention 
more could we have foreseen how fatal it would one. 
day prove to us. We might, however, have formed 

13 



98 sftiOLENSico. 

an idea of what it would be in winter, from the 
difficulty we found in passing it in the midst of 
summer. Its bed was very deep, and the banks so 
steep, that the artillery crossed it with great diffi- 
culty and only by doubhng the number of horses 
to each piece. 

Continuing our route, we again came in sight of 
the Nieper, whose marshes covered with wood near- 
ly reached the hill on w^hich lay the road we sought. 
Proceeding about a league we perceived the high 
turrets of the beautiful chateau of Zazele, appearing 
at a distance like a considerable town. Close by 
was a lake, where the cavalry of general Grouchy 
refreshed themselves. They had arrived before us. 
and were encamped round the chateau of Zazele. 

The viceroy despatched some officers from thi? 
place to Napoleon, who was at Doroghoboui ; but. 
although general Grouchy had pushed his advanced 
guard along the high road, we doubted whether it 
were cleared as far as that town. The aids-de- 
camp, therefore, crossed the Nieper below Zazele, 
and pursuing the post road from Smolensko, they 
arrived safe at Doroghoboui, where the stajff of the 
grand army had established their head-quarters. 

This town, situated on an eminence, offered a 
military position capable of effectually stopping the 
progress of any army marching on the two high 
roads from Smolensko to Moscow. Yet, notwith- 
standing these advantages, it was very feebly defen- 
ded owing to the great losses which the Russians 
had sustained in the battles of Smolensko and Val- 



OMOLENSKO. 99 

ontina. Our corps was entering Doroghobouij 
when an aid-de-camp from Napoleon brought des- 
patches to the viceroy. Having read them, the 
prince gave orders to select the most advantageous 
situation in the neighborhood to encamp his divis- 
ions. The want of water having obliged us to push 
on to Mikailovskoe, we established ourselves near 
this village. The cavalry was in the rear, the 
infantry of the royal guard in the centre ; and, on 
the flanks, were the two French divisions, which 
formed part of our corps. 

At a league from Mikailovskoe (27th August) 
we passed through two villages, situated in a marshy 
valley. Shortly after, we entered the plain through 
which runs the Nieper, and followed the road to 
Blaghove, where we intended to cross the river. On 
our right were some cultivated hills, with several 
villages. The smoke issuing from the houses made 
us conjecture that they had not been abandoned. 
We saw at a distance their peaceable inhabitants 
standing on the summit of the hills anxiously ob- 
serving whether we came to trouble the peace of 
their cottages. 

The sources of the Nieper not being far distant, the 
river is here little larger than a brook. We forded it 
with ease, and the artillery had no other difficulty 
than to climb its banks, which, like all the rivers of 
Russia, are extremely steep and high, to contain 
the great masses of water produced by the melting 
of the snow. 

The viceroy always present at the passage of a 



100 3MOLENSKO. 

river, did not quit this till all the troops had crossed. 
The fourth corps still forming the extreme point of 
the left of the grand army, we marched over almost 
imbeaten tracks. To prevent our wandering, the 
prince ordered general Triaire, commanding the ad- 
vanced-guard, to post dragoons along the road. This 
wise precaution proved beneficial to the detachments, 
and especially to the stragglers, who now, having no 
doubt which road they ought to pursue, arrived all 
safely at Agopochina. Before this measure was 
adopted, these unhappy beings, when left in the rear 
from fatigue and-^sickness, found themselves in the 
midst of thick forests, or on immense plains inter- 
sected by numerous paths, all equally beaten, and, 
not knowing the language of the country, nor meet- 
ing with a single person to direct them, they wan- 
dered about in these vast solitudes, and perished, 
sooner or later, by famine, fatigue, or the sword of 
the enemy. 

The village of Agopochina, where we halted, is 
remarkable for a large chateau^ and a noble church 
built of stone. The four sides are ornamented with 
peristyles. The sanctuary, constructed according to 
the Greek ritual, is very rich, and adorned with 
several paintings, which reminded us of those which 
the Greeks brought from Constantinople, when, in 
the fourteenth century, they first established their 
schools in Italy. From this village, the command- 
ant Sewlinge, who had lately joined our staff, was 
sent with important despatches to the king of Naples. 
The king not having received these despatches, and 



SMOLENSKO. . 101 

the commandant never returning, we felt the painful 
conviction that he had fallen into the hands of the 
Cossacks. 

The next day, (28th August) we continued to 
flank the left of the high road marching always nearly 
in a Hne with the corps of the centre. The track 
which we followed had never before been traversed 
by an army. It was narrow, cut by frequent ravines, 
and often so contracted, that it resembled a path, tra- 
ced merely to divide the grounds. Arrived jit a vil- 
lage the name of which was unknown, we found three 
roads ; one straight before us, one on our right, and a 
third on our left. We followed the latter, which 
conducted us, after a march of three hours, to an 
abandoned chateau^ \^ithin a league of Bereski. 

Early in the morning (29th August) we left this 
chateau^ in a thick fog. The frequent halls which the 
viceroy made, and the reconnoitring parties which he 
sent to the right, as if to listen whether cannon were 
firing on the high road, convinced us that he w^as 
impatient to know whether Napoleon met with any 
obstacles in his march. 

We approached Viazma. This small town, 
which, in Russia, may be reckoned a great one, was 
in a very advantageous situation for the enemy, 
being situated among the numerous branches of the 
river Viazma. It is surrounded by ravines, and 
stands on a beautiful eminence, commanding the 
plain and the defile, through which passes the high 
road from Smolensko. The Russians did not profit 
much by these advantages ; they but feebly defended 



102 SMOLENSKd. 

the place, and, after a slight resistance, set fire to the 
principal buildings and retired. When we arrived, 
Viazma was a prey to the flames ; and, although ac- 
customed to conflagrations, we could not help regard- 
ing with pity, this unhappy town, so lately peopled by 
ten thousand inhabitants. Though newly founded, it 
contained more than sixteen churches. The houses, 
all new, and elegantly constructed, were enveloped 
in clouds of smoke, and their destruction excited 
greater regret, as they were the noblest which we 
had seen since we quitted Smolensko. 

The viceroy halted on the plain more than two 
hours. Placed on a rising ground we observed dis- 
tinctly the progress of the flames, and heard the guns 
firing on the enemy beyond the town. A numerous 
cavalry, which arrived from every quarter, encamped 
in the environs. Prince Eugene, having received 
the emperor's orders, now passed the little river 
Viazma, which runs by the town of the same name ; 
and proceeding to the left, he overtook the troops 
which he had sent before him, and whose march had 
been retarded by the passage of the Viazma. We 
met with yet another branch of the Viazma, the ap- 
proach to which was so muddy, that it was impossi- 
ble to ford it at any point. It was therefore neces- 
sary to march along the bank till we found a wretch- 
ed bridge by which we crossed the river. Hence we 
came to a little hill, from the top of which we per- 
ceived at a distance a beautiful chateau^ consisting 
of four pavilions, and a noble church. On entering 
it, we learned that the village was called Novoe, and 



SMOLENSKO. lOS 

that the chateau had been plundered by the light 
cavalry. 

We halted in this village (30th August) having 
on our left the royal guards, and the fourteenth 
division, with the thirteenth in front. The artillery 
of these divisions was placed in batteries facing 
the different roads on which it was possible that 
the enemy might appear. 

As we commenced our march (31st August) we 
were rejoined by the Bavarian cavalry under general 
Preysing. The viceroy and the staff accompanied 
us. We saw on the road two neat chateaux com- 
pletely ravaged. We halted at the second, and 
passed through a delightful garden with beautiful 
walks tastefully arranged. The pavillions had been 
newly decorated, but they offered now an image of 
the most frightful desolation. The furniture was 
broken to pieces ; fragments of the most precious 
china were scattered about the garden, and many 
exquisite paintings had been torn from their frames, 
and were dispered by the winds. 

The viceroy had pushed his march beyond the 
chateau of Pakrovo ; but observing that the infantry 
was far in the rear, he returned to the chateau in 
which some provisions were found, and especially a 
quantity of oats in the straw, and excellent forage. 

Since the affair at Witepsk, the fourth corps had 
not met the enemy, and had not even seen any 
of those detachments of cossacks which, in the first 
Polish campaign, continually harrassed our troops, 
and intercepted the baggage ; but after we passed 



104 SMOLENSKO. 

Viazma, more circumspection was necessary om 
our march. , 

Although the enemy had not presented himself, 
to observe our movements, we were nevertheless 
(Certain that he would soon appear; and, the next day 
(1st September) being about half w^ay on our accus- 
tomed march, our cavalry was stopped by the cos- 
sacks. Two or three cannon-shots were the signal 
of this rencontre. The viceroy immediately put the 
cavalry of the Italian guards in order of battle, pre- 
ceded by a considerable number of sharp-shooters. 
These drove before them the enemy's squadrons, 
who retired in proportion as we advanced, without 
opposing any resistance. They contiued to retreat 
as far as Ghiat, of which the emperor had just taken 
possession. Above this town is a small river, which 
they crossed, and immediately, as if to observe us, 
drew up in order of battle on an eminence that com- 
mands the plain by which we arrived. The viceroy, 
after having made me reconnoitre the fords which 
might facilitate the passage of the river, ordered the 
Bavarian troops to cross it at a point that had been 
explored and which was exactly between two little 
villages, occupied by the cossacks. The enemy, 
however, no sooner perceived this movement, than 
they abandoned the villages and the heights, of 
which the Bavarian cavalry, followed by their artil- 
lery, soon took possession. Arrived on these heights, 
we saw the enemy flying on all sides. They were 
closely pursued 5 but as night approached, our corps 



3M0LENSK0. 105 

established itself in the little village of Paiilovo, at 
the distance of half a league from Ghiat. 

The emperor having passed three days in this 
town, we halted likewise at Paiilovo and Woremiewo 
(2d and 3d September). Here the emperor, in the 
general orders of the day, granted some repose to the 
troops, which he commanded them to employ in 
collecting provisions, in cleaning their arms, and 
"preparing for the battle, which the enemy seemed 
wiUing to accept. Lastly, the marauding detach- 
ments were ordered to return on the following eve- 
ning, if they wished to participate in the honour of 
the engagement. 



14 



BOOK IV. 



THE MOSKWA. 



AFTER the capture of Smolensko, the emperor 
Napoleon was not ignorant that Russia, having con- 
ckided a peace with the Turks, would soon have the 
whole of the Moldavian army at her disposal : nev- 
ertheless, he followed up his successes without dis- 
quieting himself respecting the future. But the 
news which he received at Ghiat, that general Ku- 
tusoff, the renowned conqueror of the Ottoman 
power, had arrived from the banks of the Danube, 
and taken the command of the Russian army, 
hitherto under the orders of count Barclay de Tolly, 
ought to have convinced him that he would soon 
be attacked. 

This general, who was regarded by the Mosco- 
vites as the hope of their country, arrived at Czarevo- 
Saimiche, (29th August). The officers and soldiers 
hailed as their chief this venerable warrior, already 
celebrated in the annals of Russia ; and the inhabi- 
tants of Ghiat informed us that the sight of him had 
inspired the army with hope and joy. In fact, he 
had scarcely arrived, when he announced that the 
Russian army would retreat no further. That he 
might better defend Moscow, within four days march 
of which we were now arrived, he chose a strong 



108 THE MOSKVVA. 

position between Ghiat and Mojaisk, where he could 
advantageously await one of those decisive battles 
which often determine the fate of empires. ' Each 
party was sanguine in its expectation of victory. 
The Moscovites contended for their country, their 
homes, and their children. Our soldiers, accustom- 
ed to conquer, and filled with those grand and heroic 
ideas, which continued success naturally inspires, 
eagerly demanded the fight ; and such is the superi- 
ority that courage gives over mere numbers, that on 
the eve of the battle we calculated what, on the mor- 
row, would be the fruits of our approaching victory. 

During the stay of Napoleon at Ghiat, our head- 
quarters were transported from Paulovo to Wore- 
miew^o, where was a beautiful seat, belonging to 
prince Kutusoff. The staff had just entered the 
village, when the viceroy, accompanied by several 
ofBcers, arrived to examine the environs of the place. 
Scarcely had he been gone a quarter of an hour, 
when he discovered that the whole plain was filled 
with Cossacks, who advanced as if they would charge 
the group that surrounded the prince Eugene ; but 
on seeing some dragoons, who formed his escort, 
they fled precipitately, and appeared no more in the 
neighbourhood of Woremiewo. 

While we remained in this village, some soldiers 
of the hundred and sixth regiment, going on a fora- 
ging party, fell in with a post-chaise occupied by a 
Russian officer and surgeon ; the former on being in- 
terrogated by an officer of the staff, declared that he 
came from Riga, his native country, and was going 



THE MOSKWA. J 09 

to the head-qnarters of Kutusoff, who had for some 
days superceded Barclay de Tolly. Althougti this 
officer was descended from a good Lavonian faiilily, 
and was decorated with several crosses and medals, 
the viceroy would not see him, justly suspecting that 
he had purposely exposed himself to discover our , 
mancBuvres. Several peasants who were surprised 
on an unfrequented road, and particularly in the 
neighborhood of Mojaisk, where the enemy had 
intrenched themselves, almost reduced this suspi- 
cion to a certainty. 

Having passed two days at Woremiewo, we left 
it on the 4th of September, and passed through some 
forests, where they informed us the cossackshad been 
seen. The reports of the advanced-guard confirm- 
ing this news, caused the viceroy to halt in an exten- 
sive plain, where our whole corps was assembled. 
The prince, placing himself at the head of the cav- 
alry, ordered the infantry to follow, while the guard, 
placed as a reserve, brought up the rear. In this 
order we advanced to meet the enemy. When wt 
reached the little village of Louzos, we found our- 
selves impeded by a rivulet. The cossacks, who 
W'Cre assembled on the opposite side, appeared to be 
forming themselves into squadrons to oppose our pas- 
sage ; but the viceroy ordering the cavalry to mount 
the ravine, the Russians, fearinfflest they should be 
charged in the rear, fled with precipitation. 

On gaining the heights, we discovered before us 
several villages on fire, and hearing a brisk cannon- 
ade, we imagined that we were not far from the road 



110 THE MOSKVA^A. 

which Napoleon had taken. Near the post-housej 
called Ghridneva, was another immense ravine that 
crossed the main road ; and on the opposite side 
was a steep hill, on which the Russians had estab- 
lished some batteries, after an obstinate engagement 
which had taken place there during the day. 

When the enemy perceived that the fourth corps 
was forming on their right, they dispatched a nume- 
rous cavalry to reconnoitre our position, which re- 
tired when our artillery opened upon them. This 
cavalry appeared for a moment disposed to maintain 
itself on the edge of a wood ; the viceroy, therefore, 
ordered colonel Rambourg, of the third Italian chas- 
seurs, to march upon that point, and bring them to 
action. The cossacks observed this movement 
without being intimidated ; and when the chasseurs 
were on the point of charging them, they rushed 
from the wood, crying ' Houra ! houra !' — a cry^ 
since become too celebrated, and which these bar- 
barians always use when they attack their enemies. 
The Italian chasseurs received them with great 
coolness. The action was smart, but of no dura- 
tion, for the cossacks seeing the Bavarian light-horse 
advance, quitted the field, leaving some prisoners 
in our possession. 

The Russians, nevertheless, maintained their po- 
sitions on the summit of the hill, whence they kept 
up a galling fire on us as we advanced. Several 
bullets fell among a group of officers who surround- 
ed the prince. We succeeded, however, in passing 
the ravine in spite of all opposition, and effected our 



THE MO'SKWA. Ill 

junction, with the advanced-guard of the grand 
army, commanded by the king of Naples. We 
distinguished that monarch from afar by his white 
plume, as stationed at the head of his troops, he 
animated them to the combat by his own example. 

As soon as the viceroy was informed that the 
king of Naples was there, he went to concert with 
him the necessary dispositions. The place of their 
conference was not changed, and both of them dis- 
coursed with the utmost sang-froid, though exposed 
to the fire of the batteries, and seeing those around 
them falling every minute by the shot of the enemy. 

At the approach of night we returned to Louzos, 
where we had no other shelter than some miserable 
barns, covered with thatch. Hunger redoubled our 
sufferings, and we had nothing to satisfy its cravings. 
The surrounding hamlets, which had been sacked by 
the Cossacks, could yield us no relief. At the same 
time we were close to the intrenched camp of Mo- 
jaisk, where Kutusoff hoped to accompHsh our 
defeat ; and this he would certainly have effected, 
if he could only have detained us a few days before 
his formidable lines. 

The position of Ghridneva, which the Russians 
had defended on the preceding evening, was evacu- 
ated during the night. The king of Naples, ardent 
in pursuit (5th September) rapidly advanced. The 
fourth corps, which continued to flank the left wing 
of the army, always kept at the distance of about a 
league from the main road. On leaving a wood in- 
fested by the cossacks, we passed through a village 



112 THE MOSKWA. 

that had been pillaged by these barbarians. The 
horrible desolation which marked their career ena- 
bled us easily to follow their steps. Being arrived 
at the foot of a hrll, we discovered some of their 
squadrons on the top, ranged in order of battle, 
round a noble chateau^ which overlooked the neigh- 
boring plains. The viceroy immedisitely ordered 
the Bavarians to advance on this point, who, notwith- 
standing the difficulties of the country, reached the 
summit in the greatest order. As our allies advanc- 
ed, the enemy retired ; and, as they descended the 
other side of the hill, our artillery-men directed upon 
them the cannon which had been planted on the ter- 
race of the chateau. We pursued them through the 
wood, and being arrived at an open place, we saw 
long columns of Russians defiling, who, pursued by 
our troops, took up a position on an extensive plain 
at the summit of a hill about half a league distant, 
and where it was said, prince Kutusoff intended to 
hazard a decisive battle. On our right, we saw, 
below us, the abbey of Kolotskoi. The massy 
towers of this building gave it the appearance of a 
town. The colored tiles, with which it was cover- 
ed, reflected the rays of the sun through the thick 
dust caused by our immense cavalry, and served to 
heighten still more, the gloomy and savage aspect 
which the whole surrounding country presented. 
The Russians intending to arrest our progress here, 
had devastated in tlie most frightful manner, all the 
plain, on which we were forced to encamp. The 
corn, though yet green, had been cut, the woods des- 



THE MOSKWA, il^ 

troyed, and the villages burnt. In a word, we found 
no food for our horses, and no shelter for ourselves. 

We halted on a hill. During this time the centre 
of the army vigorously pui'sued the enemy, and obli- 
ged them to retire upon the eminence which they 
had intrenched. We remained inactive till nearly 
two o'clock in the afternoon ; when the viceroy, fol- 
lowed only by his staff, reconnoitred the approaches 
to the Russian position. He had scarcely commen- 
ced, when our dragoons, placed aS sharp-shooters, 
announced the approach of Napoleon. Immedi- 
ately the name of the emperor passed from mouth 
to mouth, and every one av/aited his arrival with 
the greatest impatience. He soon made his appear- 
ance followed by his principal officers, and took his 
station on an eminence whence he could easily com- 
mand the whole camp of the enemy. After having 
long and attentively regarded their position, and 
carefully observed all the adjacent country, he be- 
gan to hum some insignificant tune. He then con- 
versed a moment with the viceroy, and, mounting 
his horse, he went to consult the prince of Eckmuhl 
(Davoust). 

The viceroy now ordered the thirteenth and four- 
teenth divisions to advance. The Italian 8;uard, 
which had been left in the rear, was placed in re- 
serve. These two divisions had scarcely reached 
the eminence whence they could attack the Russians, 
when a brisk fire of musketry commenced on our 
right between the sharp-shooter's of Gerard's divis- 
ion (third division, first corps) and those of the ene- 
15 



114 THE MOSKVVA. 

my. At firat our troops advanced close to the ra- 
vine which separated us from the enemy ; but 
superior numbers obliged them to retire. 

The Russians had a redoubt towards the right 
extremity of our army, the destructive fire of which 
carried consternation through our ranks. They had 
constructed it to fortify their left wing, which was 
the weakest part of their intrenched camp. Napo- 
leon understood this, and saw the necessity of taking 
that redoubt. This honour was confined to Corn- 
pan's division (fourth division, first corps) and these 
gallant men advanced to the attack, with an intre- 
pidity which ensured the success of the enterprise. 
In this interval, prince Poniatowski manoeuvred on 
our right with his cavalry, in order to turn the posi- 
tion ; and when he was at a convenient distance, 
Compan's division attacked the redoubt, and suc- 
ceeded in carrying it, after an hour's fighting. The 
enemy, completely routed, abandoned the neigh- 
boring woods, and, retreating in disorder towards 
the principal eminence, rejoined the centre of their 
army. 

The division of Compan, in proving itself worthy 
of the brilliant enterprise with which it was intrust- 
ed, purchased that honour with considerable loss. 
The acquisition of this important position cost us 
the lives of one thousand two hundred of our men, 
more than half of whom remained dead in the in- 
trenchments which they had so gloriously carried. 
The next morning, as Napoleon was reviewing the 
sixty-first regiment which had suffered most, he ask- 



THE MOSKWA. 115 

ed the colonel what he had done with one of his bat- 
talions : * Sire,' replied he, ' it is in the redoubt.'^ 

The possession of the redoubt did not in the least 
determine the success of the battle. Before the gen- 
eral engagement began, Napoleon wished to gain a 
position on the other side of the river which sepa- 
rated us from the enemy. Thick underwood 
concealed their numerous sharp shooters, and ren- 
dered the approach as difficult as it was dan- 
gerous. But our courageous light troops recom- 
menced the attack with redoubled vigour ; and 
although the day w^as nearly closed, the fire on both 
sides continued with equal fury. At the same time, 
several villages on fire to the right, spread around a 
frightful glare. The cries of the combatants, and the 
flames which were vomited from a thousand brazen 
mouths, and which carried every where desolation 
and death, completed the horror of the scene. Our 
corps, ranged in order of battle, received with intre- 
pidity the fire of the enemy, and coolly closed the 
ranks, as soon as ii cannon-ball had laid any of 
their comrades low. 

In the mean time, the night becoming more ob- 
scure, abated the fire without abating our ardor ; for 
each, uncertain of his aim, thought it better to re- 
serve his strength and his ammunition for the morrow. 
Scarcely had we ceased firing, when the Russians, 
encamped as it were on an amphitheatre, hghted 
innumerable fires. The whole of their camp was 
one uninterrupted blaze of light, which, while it 
presented a grand and sublime appearance, formed a 



116 THE MOBKWA. 

striking contrast with our bivouac, where the soldiers, 
deprived of wood, reposed in utter darkness, and 
heard no sound but the groans of the wounded. 

The viceroy caused his tent to be erected on the 
spot where the Italian guard were placed in reserve. 
Couched in the underwood, we slept soundly after 
the fatigues of the day, in spite of an impetuous 
wind, and a rain excessively cold. Towards two 
o'clock, I was awakened by the chief of our staff, who 
informed me that the emperor wished for a plan of 
the ground which we had occupied the preceding 
evening. I transmitted it to prince Eugene, who 
immediately sent it to Napoleon. The next morn- 
ing at day-break (6th of September,) the viceroy 
ordered me to complete the plan by inspecting the 
whole line, and approaching as near the enemy as 
I possibly could, that I might the better discover 
the exact nature of the ground on which they were 
encamped, and especially to observe whether there 
were any masked batteries, or ravines unknown 
to us.* ** 

After these instructions, I advanced, and disco- 
vered that the Russian camp was situated behind the 
river Kologha, upon a narrow eminence, and that 
its left was very much weakened by the loss of the 
redoubt, which we had taken the evening before. In 
front of the camp, and opposite to us, was the vil- 

■^ The plan, which will be found here, has been engraved after 
that which the viceroy used on the day of battle. 



THE MOSKWA. 117 

iage of Borodino, an extremely strong position,* 
situated at the confluence of a little rivulet, with the 
Kologha. Upon this eminence were two grand 
redoubts, about two hundred toises from each other. 
That on the right had fired on us the evening 
before ; that on the left was built on the ruins of a 
village, which they had destroyed for that purpose. 
This redoubt communicated with Borodino, by 
three bridges, constructed upon the Kologha. Thus, 
this village, and the rivulet which was in front, 
served the enemy for his first line. 

Upon the extremity of our left, the Italian cavalry 
had crossed the rivulet of Borodino ; but this vil^ 
Iage, placed on an eminence, was defended by a 
numerous corps of Russian troops. All this ground 
was exposed to the fire of their grand redoubts, as 
well as under that of several smaller masked batteries 
along the river. As for our right, they knew that our 
success the evening before, had enabled us to cross 
the Kologha at this point, and to push forward 
the greater part of our troops to the rear of the emi- 



* Napoleon said in his bulletin of the battle of Moskwa, 
' The viceroy, who formed our left, attacked and took the village 
of Borodino, which the enemy could not defend.' Prince Kutusoff. 
on the contrary, wrote to the emperor Alexander, ' The position 
which I have chosen in the village of Borodino, is one of the best 
that can be found in a flat country. It is to be wished, that the 
French would attack us in this position.' We made the attack, 
and the village was so well defended, that general Plausanne, and 
colonel Demay, of the artillery, officers of our corps, were killed in 
the commencement of the action. The Russians have given to 
this bloodv day, the name of the Battle «f Borodino. 



118 THE MOSKVVA. 

nence, on which was placed the enemy's principal 
jedoubt. 

We passed the rest of the day in reconnoitring 
the position of the Russians. General Danthouard 
caused the redoubts, which were placed too much 
in the rear to be reconstructed ; and on the left, 
they likewise threw up some epaulments, where 
cannon might be placed in battery. In fact, all was 
prepared for a decisive engagement, when, towards 
evening, the emperor sent a proclamation to the 
chiefs of the corps, with orders not to read it to the 
soldiers till the next day, should they then come to 
action ; for although the position was both advanta- 
geous and strong, the enemy had so often declined 
giving battle, that it was to be feared they would 
again act as they had done at Witepsk, and Valon- 
tina. Flere, however, they were forced to come 
to action, if they would save Moscow, from which 
we were distant but three day's march. In addition 
to this, the fatigue of our soldiers, and the exhaus- 
tion of our horses, seemed to promise to the Rus- 
sians an easy victory. On the other hand, we were 
well assured that we must either conquer or perish : 
and this idea inspired us all with such courage, that 
in spite of the numbers of the Russian army, and 
their impregnable intrenchments, we regarded our 
entrance into Moscow as certain and near at hand. 

Although worn out with fatigue, we felt the 
want of sleep ; there were many among us, so ena- 
moured of glory, and so flushed with the hope of 
the morrow's success, that they v/ere absolutely in^ 



THE MOSKWA. 119 

capable of repose. As they passed the wakeful 
hours, and the silence and darkness of midnight 
stole upon them, while the fires of the sleeping sol- 
diers, now almost extinct, threw their last rays of 
light over the heaps of arms piled around, they gave 
themselves np to profound meditation. They re- 
flected on the wonderful events of our strange expe- 
dition ; they mused on the result of a battle which 
was to decide the fate of two powerful empires ; 
they compared the silence of the night with the tu- 
mult of the morrow : they fancied that death was 
now hovering over their crowded ranks, but the dark- 
ness of the night prevented them from distinguish- 
ing who would be the unhappy victims : they then 
thought of their parents, their country ; and the un- 
certainty whether they should ever see these belov- 
ed objects again plunged them into the deepest mel- 
ancholy. But suddenly, before day-break, the beat- 
of the drum was heard, the officers cried to arms, 
the men eagerly rushed to their different stations, 
and all, in order for battle, awaited the signal for 
action. The colonels, placing themselves in the* 
centre of their regiments ordered the trumpet to 
sound, and every captain, surrounded by his compa- 
ny, read aloud the following proclamation : — 

* SOLDIERS, 

* This is the battle so much desired by you^ 
The victory depends on yourselves. It is now ne- 
cessary to us. It will give us abundance, good 
winter-quarters, and a prompt return to our conn- 



120 A'HE MOSKWAe 



% 



try ! Behave as at Aiisterlitz, at Friediand, at \Vi- 
tepsk, at Smolensko, and let the latest posterity 
recount with pride, your conduct on this day ; let 
them say of you,—' He was at the great battle 
under the walls of Moscow." 

Every one was penetrated with the truths con- 
tained in these energetic words, and replied to them 
by reiterated acclamations. Some were animated 
by the love of glory, others flattered by the hope of 
reward, but all were convinced that imperious neces- 
sity compelled us to conquer or to die. To the sen- 
timent of self preservation, were added ideas of 
duty and of valour. Every heart was animated, 
every breast proudly swelled, and each flattered 
himself that this^important day might place him in 
the rank of those privileged men, who were born to 
excite the envy of their cotemporaries, and the ad- 
miration of posterity. 

Such were the feelings of the army, when a radi- 
ent sun, bursting from the thickest fog, shone for the 
last time on many of us. It is reported that at this 
sight, Napoleon exclaimed to those around him, 
• There is the sun of Austerlitz.' The action was 
on the point of commencing, the armies were in 
sight of each other, the cannoniers at their pieces, 
and all awaited in anxious silence the signal of 
attack. At last (7th September), at six o'clock pre- 
cisely, the firing of a cannon from our principal bat- 
tery, announced that we were engaged.* Immedi- 

■^' See tbe plan of ihe field of battle. 



THE MOSKWA. 121 

ately our thirteenth division marched upon the vil- 
lage of Borodino, to which the enemy had already 
set fire. Our troops then crossed the rivulet, and 
arrived at the village. Orders had Heen given, that 
they should confine themselves to the occupation of 
this position ; but, carried away by the enthusiasm 
natural to Frenchmen, they crossed the river Ko- 
logha, and took possession of one of the bridges 
which connected the village with the eminence. It 
was then that general Plausanne, wishing to mode- 
rate the ardor of the soldiers of the one hundred 
and sixth, ran to the bridge to recal them, when a 
ball struck him in the middle of his body. Beloved 
during his life, his death was sincerely regretted. 
On this occasion the bravery of the ninety-second 
regiment deserves the highest praise. Seeing that 
the one hundred and sixth had ventured too far, it 
crossed the bridge of Borodino, and hastened to the 
succour of that regiment, which, indeed, without its 
aid, must inevitably have been destroyed. 

While the thirteenth division possessed itself of 
Borodino, the fourteenth, crossing the Kologha un- 
der the eminence, lodged itself in a ravine near the 
principal redoubt, whence the enemy poured a hor- 
rible fire. On this day the viceroy, besides his own 
corps had under his orders the divisions of Gerard 
and Morand, forming the first and third of the first 
corps. , At eight o'clock Morand's division which 
had been already engaged, and formed the right 
extreme of the fourth corps, was warmly attacked at 
the moment that it was preparing to march upon 
Ifi 



12^ 



THE MOsKVVA- 



the redoubt, a movement which ougiit to have been 
immediately seconded by Gerard's division. Nev- 
ertheless, while general Morand sustained the efforts 
of the enemy's lines, he detached upon his left the 
thirtieth regiment, to take possession of the redoubt. 
This position being carried, our artillery crowned 
the heights, and seized the advantage which for 
more than two hours the Russians had had over us. 
The guns, to whose destructive fire we had been ex- 
posed during the attack, were now turned against the 
enemy, and the battle was lost to the Russians when 
they imagined that it was but just begun. Part of 
their artillery was taken, and the rest retreated to the 
rear. In this extremity, prince Kutusoff saw that 
every thing was lost. Yet determined to make one 
effort more, and to maintain the reputation which 
he had acquired by the service of half a century, 
he renewed the combat, and attacked with all his 
forces the strong positions he had just lost. Three 
hundred pieces of cannon, now arranged on these 
heights, spread devastation and death among his 
ranks, and his disheartened soldiery perished at 
the feet of those ramparts which they had themselves 
raised, and which they regarded as the bulwark of 
Moscow, their venerable and sacred city. 

The thirtieth regiment, attacked on every side 
was unable to keep the redoubt which it had carried, 
not being supported by the third division, scarcely 
yet draw^n up in order of battle. This gallant regi- 
ment, commanded by general Bonami, was therefore 
constrained to yield to the superior force which over- 



THE M09KWA. 123 

whelmed it, and rejoined its division with the loss of 
its general. That division, with general Gerard's, 
continued to maintain itself on the hill, and to with- 
stand the utmost efforts of the Russians. 

The enemy, encouraged by the success he had 
just obtained, brought forward his reserve, with the 
hope of striking a decisive blow ; it was partly 
composed of the imperial guard. With all his forces 
concentrated, he attacked our centre, on which our 
right had now wheeled. For a moment we feared 
that our lines would have been broken, and that we 
should have lost the redoubt we had gained the 
preceding evening ; but general Friand, coming up 
with twenty-four pieces of cannon, arrested their 
progress, mowing down ranks at a time, who con- 
tinued two hours exposed to a fire of grape-shot, 
neither daring to advance, nor willing to recede. 
While they remained in this uncertainty, we profited 
by it to snatch from them a victory which they had 
considered as their own. 

The viceroy seized this decisive moment, and, 
flying to the right, ordered a simultaneous attack of 
the grand redoubt, by the first, third, and fourteenth 
divisions. Having arranged all three in order of bat- 
tle, these troops advanced with cool intrepidity. 
They approached even the intrenchments of the ene- 
my, when a sudden discharge of grape-shot from the 
whole of their artillery spread destruction and con- 
sternation through our ranks. Our troops were stag- 
gered at this fatal reception ; but the prince knew 
how to reanimate their spirits, by calling to the re- 



124 . 'HIE MOSKWA. 

collection of each regiment the circumstances in 
which they had formerly covered themselves with 
glory. To one he said, ^ Preserve that courage 
which has gained you the title of Invincible ;' to an- 
other, ' Remember, your reputation depends on this 
day ;' then turning towards the ninth of the line, he 
said to them with emotion, ' Brave soldiers, remem- 
ber you were with me at Wagram, when we broke 
the enemy's centre.' By these words, and still more 
by his example, he inflamed the valor of his troops 
to such a degree, that, shouting with joy, they again 
marched with ardor to the redoubt. His highness, 
riding along the line, arranged the attack with the 
utmost coolness, and led it himself, at the head of 
Broussier's division. At the same instant a divi- 
sion of cuirassiers, from the centre of the army, 
rushed on the redoubt, and offered.to our astonished 
sight, a grand and sublime spectacle,* The whole 
eminence, which overhung us, appeared in an instant 
a mass of moving iron : the glitter of the arms, and 
the rays of the sun, reflected from the helmets and 
cuirasses, of the dragoons, mingled with the flames of 
the cannon, that on every side vomited forth death, 
gave to the redoubt the appearance of a volcano in 
the midst of the army. 

The enemy's infantry, placed near this point, be- 
hind a ravine, kept up so destructive a fire on our 
cuirassiers, that they were obliged immediately to 
retire. Our infantry took their place ; and, turning 

'* See the plan of the field of battle. 



THE MOSKWA. 125 

the redoubt to the right and left, recommenced a 
furious combat with the Russians, whose efforts ri- 
valled our own. 

The viceroy and his staff, in spite of the enemy's 
tremendous fire, remained at the head of Broussier's 
division, followed hy the thirteenth and thirtieth reg- 
iments. They advanced on the redoubt, and enter- 
ing it by the breast-work, massacred on their pieces 
the cannoniers that served them. Prince Kutusoff, 
who had witnessed this attack, immediately ordered 
the cuirassiers of the guard to advance and endeav- 
our to retake the position. These were the best of 
their cavalry. The shock between their cuirassiers 
and ours was therefore terrible ; and one may judge 
of the fury with which both parties fought, when the 
enemy, in quitting the field, left it completely cover- 
ed with dead. In the midst of this frightful en- 
countre, ever glorious for the staff of the fourth corps, 
the young Saint Marcellin de Fontanes was wounded. 
He was one of the first who entered the redoubt, and 
received a stroke from a sabre on the nape of his 
neck. This wound procured him the cross of the 
legion of honour, bestowed on the field of battle — a 
recompense the more flattering to him, as he was 
only old enough to entertain the expectation of mer- 
iting it at some future period. 

The interior of the redoubt presented a horrid 
picture. The dead were heaped on one another. 
The feeble cries of the wounded were scarcely heard 
amid the surrounding tumult. Arms of every des- 
cription were scattered over the field of battle. The 



126. THE MOSKWA. 

parapets, half demolished, had their embrasures eii- 
tirelj destroyed. Their places were distinguished 
only bj the cannon, the greatest part of which were 
dismounted and separated from the broken carriages. 
In the midst of this scene of carnage, I discovered 
the body of a Russian cannonier, decorated with 
three crosses. In one hand he held a broken sword, 
and with the other, firmly grasped the carriage of 
the gun at which he had so valiantly fought. 

Ail the Russian soldiers in the redoubt chose 
rather to perish than to yield. The general who 
commanded them would have shared their fate, if 
his valour had not preserved his life. This bravG 
soldier had sworn to die at his post, and he would 
have kept his oath. Seeing all his companions 
dead around him, he endeavored to precipitate him* 
self on our swords, and he would inevitably have 
met his death, had not the honour of taking such a 
prisoner arrested the cruelty of the soldiers. The 
viceroy received him with kindness, and committed 
him to the care of colonel Asselin, who conducted 
him to the emperor. 

The viceroy's attention had been entirely taken 
up by his centre, when it was recalled to his left by a 
grand movement of cavalry directed by the enemy on 
that point. General Delzons, who, since the morn- 
ing, had been menaced by this cavalry, formed his 
first brigade into a square* on the left of the Borodino. 
Several times he was on the point of being attacked; 

* See the plan of the field of battle. 



THE MOSKWA. 12T 

but (he enemy, seeing that he could make no im- 
pression on him, advanced to the extremity of our 
left, and commenced a brisk attack on the Bavarian 
light cavahj, which were for a moment thrown into 
disorder. The prince, who happened then to be at 
this point, threw himself into the middle of a square 
fdrmed by the eighty-fourth, and prepared to set it 
in motion, when the cossacks were in their turn re- 
pulsed, and taking to flight, disengaged our left. 
Every thing was then restored to the greatest order. 
The prince was found at all points exhorting eve- 
ry officer to do his duty, and reminding him, that on 
this day depended the glory of France. He was 
seen at all the batteries, causing them to advance in 
proportion as the enemy gave way ; and, braving 
every peril, he himself instructed the cannoniers 
how to direct their fire. It was thus that, hastening 
to every post of danger, from the beginning of the 
day, his aid-de-camp, Maurice Mejean, received a 
wound in the thigh, and the equerry, Bellisomi, had 
his horse killed under him. His highness having at 
one time placed himself on the parapet of the grand 
redoubt, surrounded by his officers, he remarked 
from the embrasures all the movements of the enemy, 
paying no attention to the bullets that passed him on 
all sides. Among the persons who composed his 
suite, was colonel de Bourmont, whose great merit 
was only equalled by his rare modesty. He had 
dismounted with the other officers, and was leaning 
on the pommel of the saddle, when general Guille- 
minot letting a paper fall^ the colonel stooped to pick 



128 , THE MOSKWA. 

it up. That motion saved him his life ; for at t}iat 
very instant a cannon-ball passed through the breast 
of his horse. 

During this memorable day, the emperor remain- 
ed constantly in the rear of the centre ; and made, 
on the extremity of his right several grand manceu- 
Tres with the Westphalians and the Poles to support 
the duke of Elchingen (Ney), in his repeated and 
desperate attempts to turn the position of the enemy. 
On this point the Russians obstinately withstood all 
our efforts, and repulsed with considerable loss the 
Westphalians and the Poles. 

Although we had taken two redoubts, the enemy 
had still a third, situated on another eminence, and 
separated by a ravine. It was from thence that, es- 
tablishing some batteries well served, they kept up 
an incessant fire on our regiments, some of which 
were sheltered by a wood, and others were behind 
the grand redoubt. We remained during several 
hours in this state of inaction ; the artillery alone 
vomitting from every side flames and death. At 
this period general Houard was killed by a grape- 
shot, while commanding the second brigade of the 
thirteenth division ; companion in arms to general 
Plausanne, they perished on the same day. United 
in their lives, they were not separated in death ; for 
they were both interred on that field which had 
witnessed their gallantry. 

The fourth corps, which, since ten o'clock had 
sustained with intrepidity the attacks of the enemy, 
was not the only one that had losses to deplore. Al- 



THE M03KWA, 129 

though the battle was not yet conciudecl, there was 
not a corps that had not to mourn the death of one 
or more of its chiefs. I should make too long a di- 
gression from my subject were I to enumerate all 
thQ generals who purchased with their lives the suc- 
cess of this bloody day ; but there were some, who, 
by their courage and their virtue, had gained the es- 
teem of all the army. They excited that universal 
regard which brave men alone can inspire. They 
were the subject of general observation and applause, 
"While living, and the circumstances of their death will 
be read with the liveliest interest. Among these I 
ought to include general x\ugustus Caulincourt, who 
w^as killed as he entered the grand redoubt, at the 
head of the fifth cuirassiers. Cut down in the flow- 
er of his age, he had witnessed more combats than 
years. To the valour of a soldier, he united the po- 
liteness of the gentleman. He was well informed., 
polished, sprightly, noble, and generous. In short, 
he was endowed with all the qualities and all tlie vir- 
tues that should characterize the French soldier. Be- 
sides' generals Plausanne and Houard, of whom i 
have just now spoken, we had to deplore the loss of 
the generals of brigade, Compere and Marion, as well 
as general count Lepel, aid-de-camp to the king of 
Westphalia, not forgetting, above all, the just tribute 
of respect due to the memory of the intrepid Mont- 
brun. His undaunted intrepidity had long inspired 
us with a melancholy presentiment that such a war- 
rior must necessarily perish on the field of battle. A 
17 



130 THE MOSKWA. 

worthy successor of general Lassale, he died like 
him ; and like him he was an honour to our light ca- 
valry. The number of generals wounded amounted 
to thirty, among whom were the generals of division 
Grouchy, Rapp, Compans, Morand, Desaix, Lahous- 
saye, &c. 

Although the day was far advanced, the fate of 
many an unfortunate being was yet to be decided. 
The cannon roared with unabated fury, and contin- 
ued to overwhelm new victims. The viceroy, ever 
indefatigable, and unmindful of danger, was on ev- 
ery part of the field of battle, exposed to a shower 
of grape-shot and bullets. The firing still continu- 
ed, and, in the evening, it was so briskly maintained^ 
that the legion of the Vistula, commanded by gen- 
eral Claparede, was forced to kneel down, behind 
the grand redoubt. We remained more than an 
hour in this uncomfortable position, when the prince 
of Neufchatel (Berthier) coming up, had an inter- 
view with the viceroy, which lasted till near dark. 
Their conference being ended, prince Eugene issu- 
ed different orders to his divisions and the firing ceas- 
ed. The enemy was then more quiet, and only fired 
a few shot at intervals, while the silence of the last 
redoubt, gave us reason to believe that the Russians 
were preparing to retreat on the road to Mojaisk. 

The weather, which had been very fine during 
the day, became, towards evening, cold and damp. 
The whole army bivouacked on the ground it had 
gained. The viceroy, who, since four o'clock in the 
morning had not dismounted from his horse, took 



THE MOSKWA. 131 

the road behind the eminence occupied by the royal 
guard, and where his highness expected to have 
found his tent erected ; but his people having lost 
their way, he and his suit were indebted to the hos- 
pitality of general Lecchi, who could only give us 
a supper without bread, and a tumbril for the bed 
on which the prince reposed. This encampment 
was most cruel ; neither men nor horses had any 
thing to eat, and the want of wood exposed us to 
all the rigour of a cold and frosty night. 

The next day (8th September), very early, we 
returned to the field of battle. What had been pre- 
dicted the preceding evening had actually taken 
place. The enemy, seeing the intrepidity with which 
we carried his redoubts, despaired of maintaining 
his position ; and resolved to evacuate it during the 
night. As we passed over the ground which they 
had occupied, we were enabled to judge of the im- 
mense loss that the Russians had sustained. In the 
space of a square league, almost every spot was co- 
vered with the killed or wounded. On many places 
the bursting of the shells had promiscuously heaped 
together men and horses. The fire of our howitzers 
had been so destructive that mountains of dead 
bodies were scattered over the plain 5 and the few 
places that were not encumbered with the slain, were 
covered with broken lances, muskets, helmets, and 
cuirasses, or with grape-shot and bullets, as numer- 
ous as hailstones after a violent storm. But the most 
horrid spectacle was the interior of the ravines ; al- 
most all the wounded who were able to drag them- 



132 THE MOSICWxi. 

selves along, had taken refuge there to avoid the 
shot. These miserable wretches, heaped one upon 
another, and almost suffocated with blood, uttering 
the most dreadful groans, and invoking death with 
piercing cries, eagerly besought us to put an end to 
their torments. 

While the cavalry pursued the enemy, the vice- 
roy ordered his engineers to destroy the redoubt ; 
and as the fourth corps remained encamped on the 
field of battle, it was presumed we should pass the 
night there. His highness had also ordered his suite 
to establish .themselves in the church of Borodino, 
the only building that had escaped the flames, but it 
was filled with the wounded, and the surgeons were 
employed in dressing and amputating. The staff of 
the prince then determining to establish their quar- 
ters in the village of Novoe, near the road to Mojaisfc 
on the banks of the Kologha, were on the point of 
entering the castle, when some parties of cossacks 
obliged them precipitately to retreat. 

In the meantime the viceroy being informed that 
the fifteenth division, returned from Witepsk, had at 
length, joined again their corps, received orders to 
advance. Arrived at the village, below which was 
the redoubt abandoned by the enemy, we left, on the 
right, the high road of Mojaisk, which was pursued 
by the centre corps and marched along the Kologha. 
On this march we were convinced that it would have 
been impossible to have turned the right of the Kus- 
sains on the preceding evening. They had not only 
many bodies of reserve on that side, but likewise se- 



THK M0SK1VA. 135 

veral masked batteries along the river. Within half 
a league of the village of Krasnoc, we found lour 
other great redoubts, in the form of a square, which 
defended the road, and were not quite completed. 

Quitting the field of battle, we left a detachment 
of all the stragglers that could be collected, to de- 
fend the position under the orders of colonel Bour- 
mont. This difficult task was perfectly accomplish- 
ed by that officer, who, after destroying the enemy's 
works, rejoined us in a few days. During this time 
he lived in the midst of the dead and the dying, and 
was obliged to procure his provisions at a distance 
of more than five leagues. 

Whilst we were preparing to encamp at the cha- 
teau of Krasnoti, a rumour was spread of the arrival 
of Napoleon. This news, however, was not confir- 
med. On a height before us, we heard our sharp- 
shooters engaged with the cossacks. In one of the 
charges of cavalry, colonel Marba?.uf was wounded 
at the head of his regiment. 

The c/ia^c«4i of Krasnoe, and the village of this 
name, are situated near the Moskwa. The follow- 
ing morning we crossed this river, and, on its left, 
prepared to attack Mojaisk ; but the viceroy, with 
his escort, advanced only to the suburbs. Here we 
saw this unhappy town enveloped in flames. The 
inhabitants had fled, and our dragoons made only a 
iew prisoners, found in the houses on this side of the 
river. Several batteries, established on an emi- 
nence beyond Mojaisk, proved to us that we were 
masters of it. In effect we learned that Napoleon 



134 THE MOSKWA. 

had taken it, after an obstinate engagement, and that 
the enemy in bm'ningthe town had not abandoned it 
without making a brave defence, leaving the streets 
and squares filled with the dead and the dying. 

Our staff examined the environs of Mojaisk, when 
the fourth corps, moving to the left, followed a high 
road, through a thick wood ; beyond which we saw 
a considerable village, and, further on, we found a 
larger one, called Vedenskoe. 

On this delightful spot was a chateau^ the furniture 
of which corresponded with the beauty of the exte- 
rior ; but in an instant it was entirely pillaged, with- 
out any other advantage than some thousands of 
bottles of wine, which Avere seized by the soldiers. 

From Vedenskoe, turning to the right, we crossed 
a rivulet, close to a little village, and, pursuing a road 
through thick underwood and briars, we arrived at a 
village, called Vrouinkovo, where we understood the 
head-quarters were to be established. On entering it, 
we perceived on an eminence at a distance, some very 
neat houses, and four steeples elegantly constructed. 
We were about to halt in this village, where abun- 
dance seemed to reign, when it was announced 
that the fourth corps was to proceed to a town of the 
name of Rouza, the steeples of which were plainly 
perceived. Leaving Vrouinkovo, we saw a great 
number of peasants with carts, loaded with their 
most valuable furniture and property. A sight so 
new excited our astonishment, and asking colonel 
Asselin what could be the reason of this singular 
assemblage, he answered me as follows :— 



THE MOSKWA. 135 

' In proportion as our armies advanced into the in- 
terior of Russia, the emperor Alexander, seconding 
the wishes of the nobility, and following the example 
of Spain, endeavoured to make this a national war. 
Accordingly, the nobility and the priests have, by 
persuasions and by bribes, induced all the peasants 
w^ho w^ere dependent upon them, to rise en masse 
against us. Of all the districts which have adhered 
to this system of defence, that of Rouza has shown 
itself the most zealous. The whole population, an- 
imated by their seigneur, who had declared himself 
the chief of the insurrection, was properly organized, 
and ready to join the Russian army, as soon as they 
should receive the necessary orders. 

' As Rouza was at a distance of five or six leagues 
from the high road, the inhabitants had flattered 
themselves that we should not pass through their 
town, and had consequently remained secure and 
tranquil. What was their surprise, or rather their 
terror,' continued the colonel, ' when I was sent by 
the viceroy, and presented myself with a dozen of 
Bavarian light horse before the town ? The peas- 
ants, dismayed, rushed from their houses, hastily 
harnessed their horses to the carts which you now 
see, and fled with the utmost precipitation. 

' The men, however, who had been enrolled for 
the levy, collected at the voice of their lord, and, 
armed with poles, lances, and scithes, assembled in 
the square, and immediately advanced towards us ; 
but this timid populace could not resist a few sol- 
diers accustomed to battle, and presently took to 



136 THE MOSKWA. 

flight. The chief alone evinced more firmness. 
He awaited us on the square, and, armed with a 
poinard, menaced all who summoned him to sur- 
render.—' How can I survive the dishonour of my 
countryj^ cried he, foaming with rage. ' Our altars 
are no more ! Our empire is disgraced ! Take my life, 
it is odious to me P We wished to calm him, and 
endeavoured to wrench his poinard from him ; but 
he became m.ore furious, and wounded several of 
oor soldiers, who then listening only to revenge, 
killed him with repeated stabs of the bayonet. 

' This was scarcely effected when the advanced- 
guard of the fourth corps entered Rouza. On my 
reciting what had happened,' continued the colonel, 
* they immediately pursued the peasants, w^ho had 
fled with their effects and their cattle. They soon 
came up with them, and those whom you see here, 
are a part of the fugitives escaped from Rouza. 
Go into the town,' added he, ' and you will see 
many more of them.' 

As we approached the tow^n, we saw^ a great num- 
ber of these carts brought back by the dragoons. 
It was an affecting spectacle to behold these ve- 
hicles loaded with children and old people. The 
heart was pierced with grief to think how soon our 
soldiers would divide among them the carts and 
horses which constituted the sole fortune of these 
disconsolate families. 

At length we entered Rouza ; and as we advanc- 
ed lo the very centre of the town, we saw^ in every 
street, a crowd of soldiers, who. pillaged the houses, 



THE MOSKWA. 137 

unmindful of the cries of the inhabitants, or the tears 
of the mothers, who, to soften the hearts of their con- 
querors, presented their children on their knees ; 
bathed in tears, and distractedly wringing their 
hands, these innocent creatures begged only for 
their lives. This rage for plunder was justified in 
some, who, dying with hunger, only sought after 
provisions ; but others, under this pretence, pillaged 
every thing, and even robbed the women and chil- 
dren of the very cjothes which covered them. 

The viceroy had arrived several hours with his 
staff only. He had left the divisions of infanti^y and 
the royal guards, who to-day encamped in our rear, 
between Rouza and Vrouenkovo. Every one en- 
chanted to find himself in so delightful a town as 
Rouza, give himself up to that security, or rather the 
disorder, which abundance produces after long pri- 
vations ; when suddenly some Bavarian light horse, 
who had been sent to reconnoitre, returned at full 
speed, reporting that several squadrons of cossacks 
* were advancing towards the town. It would be diffi- 
cult to describe the sensation produced by this news. 
The tranquillity that we had enjoyed, opposed to the 
imminent danger which now threatened, produced a 
most sudden transition from the liveliest joy to the 
deepest despair. ' The cossacks are here P cried 
one ; ' There they come P cried another, quite aghast. 
^ What can we oppose to them V we asked one an- 
other. ^ Nothing hut some miserable soldiers, come 
hither to plunder the peasantsP This was, however, 
our only resource. They were immediately assem- 
18 



138 THE MOSKWA. 

bled in the square, but they werd only about sixty 
in number, and half of them without arms. 

The viceroy informed of the cause of this alarm^ 
mounted his horse and ordered his officers to follow 
him. We hastened out of the town, and entered 
the plain ; but what was our surprise, when, instead 
of finding several squadrons, we only perceived 
about a dozen horsemen, and at so great a distance, 
that we could scarcely distinguish them. Some 
Bavarian light horse who were with us, advanced to 
reconnoitre, and reported that they were really 
Cossacks : but by their small number, and timid 
and cautious march we could easily perceive that 
we had nothing to fear from them. 

As these cossacks might have been detached 
from a considerable corps, the prince thought it ne- 
cessary to confirm the order which he had already 
given for some troops to advance ; but he modified it 
so far as to content himself with two battalions in- 
stead of the whole of the thirteenth division, which 
had at first been ordered. These two battalions en- 
camping before Rouza dissipated our fears. Every 
one now returned quietly to his lodgings, where a 
table well served, and excellent wines, made us 
soon forget the alarm we had experienced towards 
the close of the day. 

The following day we remained at Rouza. The 
viceroy profited by this repose to make the chief of 
his staff draw up a circumstantial report of the cele- 
brated battle of the 7th of September, in which the 
fourth corps had particularly distinguished itself. 



THE MOSKWA. 139 

Whilst the thirteenth and fourteenth divisions laid 
before the emperor their claims on his regard, the 
fifteenth division, not less deserving than ttie rest, but 
deprived of the honour of fighting in the battle of the 
Moskwa, was likewise justly entitled to distinguished 
notice, in consideration of the numberless hardships 
which it had undergone in its expedition to Witepsk. 
This brave division, proceeding constantly through a 
marshy country, meeting only with deserted and rav- 
aged villages, was always compelled to bivouac dur- 
ing the night, and generally without provisions, and 
every day to make the most painful and harrassing 
marches to attack an enemy, which always fled at its 
appearance. For nearly twenty days it saw only the 
fields which we had completely laid waste ; and at 
length, worn out with hunger, weariness, and dis- 
ease, this unfortunate division, which, with its chief, 
Was worthy of a better fate, could not reach Bo- 
rodino, till the day after the battle. The fatigues 
which it had endured, and especially, the great 
losses it had sustained, obliged the viceroy to leave 
it in reserve. It was the highest proof of esteem 
which the prince could bestow, to unite them with 
the heroes of the royal guards, the greatest part of 
whom had been taken from this division. 

On quitting Rouza it was decided that this posi- 
tion, so important on account of the abundance of 
provisions which were still to be found there, should 
be maintained. The castle, situated on a small em- 
inence, surrounded with ditches, afforded a sufficient 
defence for the garrison, and guarded them against 



140 THE>MOSK\VA. 

Q.coup de main. This honourable command was 
given to captain Maison Neuve, who proved him- 
self worthy of the confidence reposed in him As 
long as the position was retained, this brave and 
intelligent officer rendered himself useful to the 
army by the skilfuhiess of his dispositions, and by 
the ease with which he appeared to comprehend 
every intention of the enemy. 



BOOK V. 



MOSCOW. 



AFTER the battle of the Moskwa, our triumph- 
ant army marched in three columns towards the ca- 
pital of the Russian empire. Napoleon, impatient 
to get possession of it, pursued the enemy with his 
accustomed vi<^our, on the high road of Smolensko ; 
w^hile prince Poniatowski, at the head of the fifth 
corps, marched on the right by way of Kaluga. The 
viceroy, commanding the fourth corps, continued on 
the left flank, and, taking the road of Zwenighorod, 
proceeded towards Moscow, where the whole army 
was to assemble. 

We could judge of the consternation which reign- 
ed in this capital, by the terror with which we in- 
spired the country people. Our arrival at Rouza 
(9th of September) and the cruel manner in which we 
had treated the inhabitants, were no sooner knou'n, 
than all the villages on the road to Moscow, were 
instantly abandoned. The country presented one 
uniform scene of horrible desolation : for most of 
those who fled, burnt, in despair, their houses, their 
chateaux, and the grain and forage, which were 
scarcely gathered. AH these unhappy beings, terri- 



142 MOSCOW. 

fied by the fatal and useless resistance of the inhab- 
itants of Rouza, threw away the pikes, with which 
they had been armed, and swiftly fled to conceal 
their wives and their little ones in the thick forests 
at a distance from our route. 

On approaching Moscow, we had hoped that civ- 
ilization, which enervates the soul, and especially an 
attachment to property, so natural to the inhabitants 
of large towns, would have induced the people not 
to quit their habitations. We were convinced that 
the rapacity of our soldiers was principally excited 
by the deserted state in which we found the villages. 
But the country around Moscow does not belong to 
the inhabitants of that beautiful city ; it was the 
property of the lords who had declared against us, 
and their peasants, equally enslaved and oppressed 
with those of the Nieper and of the Volga, obeyed the 
orders of their masters. They had been enjoined, 
on pain of death, to fly at our approach, and to hide 
in the woods, whatever could be useful to us. 

We perceived the execution of this fatal measure, 
on entering the village of Apalchtchouina. The 
houses deserted, the castle abandoned, the furniture 
dashed to pieces, and the provisions destroyed, pre- 
sented a spectacle of the most frightful desolation. 
All these ravages showed us what sacrifices a people 
sufficiently magnanimous to prefer independence to 
riches, will cheerfully make. 

Near Karinskoe, a village half way towards Zwe- 
nighorod, whither we were marching, the cossacks 
appeared. According to their custom, they made no 



MOSCOW. 143 

stand against our advanced-guard, but contented 
themselves with observing us, by marching on an 
eminence at our left, parallel to the high road. On 
the summit of this height, in the midst of a thick 
wood of birch, rose the gray walls and the steeples 
of an ancient abbey. At the foot of the hill stood 
the little town of Zwenighorod, built on the banks of 
the Moskwa. On this point the cossacks formed 
themselves into several bodies, and skirmished for 
some time with our light troops, but they were gra- 
dually dislodged from their ambuscades, and we 
took post round Zwenighorod. 

The abbey situated above this little town, com- 
mands the course of the Moskwa. Its embattled 
walls, more than twenty feet in height, and between 
five and six feet thick, are flanked by four great 
towers, with embrasures. This edifice, constructed 
in the thirteenth or fourteenth century, reminds us 
of the times when the Muscovites, filled with vene- 
ration for their priests, suffered the sacerdotal au- 
thority to take precedence of that of the nobles ; and 
when the Czar marched, on days of ceremony, before 
the patriarch of Moscow, holding the bridle of his 
horse. But these monks, so powerful and so formi- 
dable before the time of Peter I, were brought back 
again to the simplicity of the apostles, when this 
great monarch, on founding his empire, confiscated, 
their property and diminished their number. 

To conceive a proper idea of the changes pro- 
duced by this reform, it was sufficient to enter the 
abbey of Zwenighorod. At the sight of these lofty 



144 MOSCOW. 

towers and enormous walls, we supposed that the 
interior contained an agreeable and commodious re- 
sidence, and that we should find among these monks 
the wonted abundance of all richly-endowed abbeys. 
A large iron gate, strongly barricadoed, confirmed us 
in the persuasion that this convent was well supplied 
with every thing that our soldiers needed. We were 
about to fierce the entry, when an old man whose flow- 
ing beard was whiter than his robe, came to admit us. 
He was desired to conduct us to the abbot. On en- 
tering the court, we were much surprised at finding 
that this vast edifice did not correspond with the high 
opinion we had conceived of it ; and that our guide 
instead of introducing us into the apartments of the 
superior, conducted us to a small chapel, where we 
saw four monks prostrate at the foot of an altar, con- 
structed in the Grecian style. These venerable old 
men, when they perceived us, threw themselves at 
our feet, and, embracing our knees, entreated, in the 
name of the God whom they adored, that we would 
respect their church, and the graves of some bishops^ 
of which they were the faithful guardians. ' You 
may judge, by our miserable appearance,' they ad- 
dressed us by means of an interpreter, ' that we can 
have no hidden treasures ; and our food is so coarse, 
that many of your soldiers would scorn to eat it. 
We have no otlier possessions than our relics and 
our altars. Deign to respect them from a reverence 
for a religion so similar to your own.' This we 
promised, and our assurance was confirmed on the 



MOSCOW. 145 

arrival of the viceroy, who established his head- 
quarters in this abbey, and thereby preserved the 
church and the convent, from the pillage with which 
they were threatened. 

While this asylum, formerly so peaceful, was a 
prey to the tumult unavoidable on such occasions, I 
perceived one of these pious monks, who, to conceal 
himself, took refuge in a cell ahnost under ground, 
the simplicity of which presented nothing to excite 
our avarice. This friar, sensible of my attentions to 
him, rewarded them by acknowledging that he 
spoke French, and that he wished to have the plea- 
sure of conversing with me. Charmed with his 
candour, I profited by it, to inform myself of every 
thing relating to the sentiments and character of a 
nation, from whom we had conquered more than 
two hundred and fifty leagues of territory, without 
becoming acquainted with them. When I men- 
tioned Moscow, he told me that it was the place of 
his nativity, and I perceived that deep sighs inter- 
rupted his speech. I judged by his silent grief that 
he mourned over the misfortunes to which this great 
capital would soon be exposed. I sympathized with 
him ; but, anxious to know the state of affairs in 
that city which we were on the point of entering, I 
ventured at length to ask him concerning it. 

* The French have entered the territory of Rus- 
sia with immense force,' said this venerable monk; 
^ they come to ravage our beloved country, and they 
advance even to the sacred city — the centre of our 
empire, and the source of ©ur prosperity. Unac- 
19 



146 MOSCOW. 

quainted with our manners and our character, thej 
think that we shall bend under their yoke, and that^ 
compelled to choose between our homes and our in- 
dependence, we shall, like too many others, submit 
to their dominion, and renounce that national pride 
in which consists the true power of a people. No, 
Napoleon is mistaken. We are too wise not to abhor 
his tyranny ; and we are not sufficiently corrupted to 
prefer slavery to liberty. In vain he hopes to force 
us, by his numberless armies, to sue for peace. He 
does not remember that the population of Russia is 
at the absolute control of the nobility. Our seign- 
eurs, able at their pleasure to cause whole districts 
to emigrate, will order their peasants to fly into the 
deserts, at the approach of the invader, or, if neces- 
sary, will destroy every town and village, rather than 
give them up to a true barbarian, whose tyranny is 
more dreadful to us than death itself. 

' We are aware, too,' added he, ' that Napoleon 
relies much on the dissensions which used formerly 
to exist between the monarch and the nobles ; but 
the love of our country has stifled every ancient feud. 
He flatters himself, likewise, that he will be able to 
arm the people against the great. Vain efforts ! the 
people are, from religion, obedient to their masters : 
nor will they confide in the. deceitful promises of 
him who burns their cottages, murders their chil- 
dren, devastates their country, and subverts their 
temples. Besides, has not the whole of Europe 
witnessed the most striking instances of his per- 
fidy ? Is he not the scourge of Germany, of whom 



MOSCOW. 147 

lie professed to be the protector ? Spain, too, hav- 
ing trusted to the-sincerity of his alHance, is become 
one vast burying-place ! The pontiff who crowned 
him, and raised him from a private station to the 
first throne in the world, what reward has he receiv- 
ed for that diadem ? An ignominious captivity ! And 
even your own country, which, for the sake of a for- 
eigner, seems to have forgotten the race of St. 
Louis, what advantages does she derive from her 
submission ? Incessant new taxes, to maintain a 
crowd of worthless courtiers, or to gratify the luxury 
of a family insatiable in their pleasures. In addition 
to this, you have proscriptions and secret executions 
without number. Your very thoughts are fettered, 
and whole generations are destroyed. In truth, your 
mothers have often been reduced to the sad necessity 
of deploring their fecundity. This,' said the vene- 
rable old man to me, ' this is the situation in which 
your tyrant has placed you : a tyrant who is the more 
vain and odious, because he sprung from an obscure 
family ; and who, formerly having scarcely one do- 
mestic to serve him, is now desirous that the whole 
universe should crouch at his feet, and that even 
kings should be compelled to wait in his anti-room. 
If I did not fear to disgrace the majesty of that mo- 
narch who loves us as we love him, I would draw a 
comparison between your monarch and ours, — rbut 
such a comparison would only produce a shocking 
contrast, as it would place vice in constant opposi- 
tion to virtue,' 

Struck by the energy of this priest, whose 



i4!8 sfoscow. 

strength of mind had suffered nothing from age, i 
remained silent, and was at the same time charmed 
with his candour. Affected by the confidence with 
which he had honoured me, I thought I might cast 
off all reserve, and derive much useful information 
from his conversation. ' As you have just mention- 
ed the emperor Alexander,' said I to him, ' pray tell 
me what is become of him ? Since we passed the 
Wilia we have never heard any thing of him ; and at 
Witepsk,in a pubhc audience. Napoleon announced, 
with much satisfaction, that this monarch had shared 
the fate of his father, having fallen a victim, at Wi- 
liki luki, to the treachery of his courtiers.' 

' He cannot have much greatness of soul,' an- 
swered the old man, smiling, * who triumphs at the 
death of an enemy. But, to prove to you the falsity 
of that report, and to show you how much harmony 
exists among all classes at this critical moment, and 
how beloved our sovereign is, I will read you a let- 
ter, which was sent to me from Moscow, a few days 
after Alexander had arrived there from the army.' 
At these words he took out the letter, translating it 
to me as he went on, 

Moscoiv, July 27*. 
' This day will add new lustre to our annals, and 
the remembrance of it will descend to the remotest 
posterity, as an eternal testimony of Russian patriot- 
ism and loyalty. It will record the ardent attach- 

* The translation of this letter having appeared in the French jour- 
nals, it is given here as it was published m the Moniteur. 



MOSCOW. 149 

merit, which our illustrious nobility, and every class 
of citizens, feel for our beloved sovereign. After a 
notification published in the evening, the nobility and 
the merchants assembled, at eight o'clock on the fol- 
lowing morning, at the palace Slobode, to wait the 
arrival of our most gracious emperor. Notwith- 
standing the object of this meeting had not been 
communicated, every one attended, full of those 
loyal feelings which the appeal of the father of his 
country to his children, in the capital of his empire, 
would naturally inspire. The silence which reigned 
in this vast assembly clearly proved their union, and 
their disposition to submit to any sacrifice. When 
the manifesto of his imperial majesty was read in 
the presence of the governor of Moscow, appealing to 
the nation at large, and calling on every one to de- 
fend his country against an enemy '' who, ■ ■ ith craft 
in his heart, and seduction on his lips, was bringing 
fetters and indissoluble chains for Russia,' the illus- 
trious posterity of the Pojarskies, animated by the 
most ardent zeal, immediately testified their readi- 
ness to sacrifice the whole of their property, and 
even their lives. They immediately resolved that 
levies should be made in the government of Moscow, 
to form an army of the interior, consisting of ten 
men out of every hundred, who should be armed to 
the utmost of their ability, and provided with cloth- 
ing and pay. The manifesto being aflervvards read 
in the assembly of the merchants, this body, animat- 
ed by the general zeal, resolved that a sum of money 
should be levied on each of them, proportionate to 



150 MOSCOW. 

their respective capitals, to defray the expense of the 
army of the interior. Not satisfied with this, the 
greater part of them were desirous of making fur- 
ther sacrifices. They demanded permission to open 
a voluntary subscription for that purpose, and in less 
than an hour, the sum subscribed amounted to more 
than one million and a half of roubles. 

' Such was the disposition of these two bodies, 
when his majesty, who had attended divine service 
at the church of the palace, appeared among the no- 
bles. After assuring them, in a short speech, that 
he considered the zeal of the nobility as the firmest 
support of his throne ; and, acknowledging that they 
had at all times, and under all circumstances, shown 
themselves the guardians and faithful defenders of 
the integrity and glory of their beloved country, he 
condescended to give them a brief sketch of the state 
of military affairs, which then required extraordinary 
measures of defence. When he was informed of 
the unanimous decision of the two bodies, who had 
resolved to furnish, to clothe, and to arm, at their 
own expense, eighty thousand men for the defence 
of Moscow, he received this new proof of attach- 
ment to his person, and of love to the country, with 
the feelings of a father who loves his children ; and 
who is proud of their courage. Yielding to the 
emotions which overpowered him, he exclaimed^ 
' I did not expect less : you have fully confirmed toy 
€>pinion of you.' 

' Afterwards his imperial majesty condescended 
to proceed to the saloon where the merchants were 



MOSCOW. 151 

assembled, and, being informed of the zeal they had 
shown both in the resolution of levying a sum on the 
whole body and making an extraordinary voknitary 
subscription of a million and a half of roubles, he 
expressed his gracious satisfaction in terms dictated 
hy wisdom ilself. His speech was followed by the 
general exclamation of, ' We are ready to sacrifice 
for our father, not only our fortunes, but our lives.' 
These were the words of the descendents of the im- 
mortal Minin. The scene of that morning requires 
the pen of a new Tacitus ; while the pencil of a se- 
cond Apelles alone would do justice to the picture, 
which represented the monarch and the father beam- 
ing kindness and benevolence, receiving from his chil- 
dren, who thronged around him, the sacrifices which 
they were offering on the altar of their country. 

^ May our enemy be informed of this ! May that 
proud man, who sports with the fate of his subjects^ 
learn it, and tremble ! We shall all march against 
him. We are guided by religion, and by loyalty for 
our sovereign and country. We will conquer, or 
perish together.' 

After having read this letter, the pious friar in- 
formed me that the patriarch Platon, archbishop of 
Moscow, notwithstanding his advanced and decrep- 
it! age, watched still in the spirit and in prayer, for 
the welfare of his sovereign and the empire, and 
that he had just sent to his imperial majesty the pre- 
cious image of Saint Serge, bishop of Radouegueo 
The monarch, added he, accepted this sacred relic. 
and presented it to the army of Moscow, hoping 



162 MOSCOW. 

that it would be safe under the protection of this 
saint, who, once, by his benediction, shielded the 
victorious Demitri Douskoi, in bis combat against 
the cruel Mamai. 

This is the letter of his eminency Plalon, dated 
from the abbey Troitsa,* July 26th. 

' Moscow, the capital of the empire, the new Je- 
rusalem, receives her Christ like a mother, in the 
arms of her faithful sons; and perceiving, through 
the mist which is raised, the brilliant glory of his 
pov/ef, she sings joyfully, Hosannah, praised be he 
who is arrived ! Let the arrogant and shameless 
Goliath bring his mortal terrors from, the limits of 
France to the confines of Russia ! Peaceful religion, 
this sling of the Russian David, will soon destroy 
his sanguinary pride. This image of Saint Serge, 
ancient defender of our country's happiness, is offer- 
ed to your imperial majesty's acceptance.' 

Astonished at a custom so different from ours, I 
asked whether it was really true, that the emperor 
Alexander had given this standard to his soldiers. 
^ i am so certain of it,' answered the venerable ec- 
clesiastic, ' that it would be sacrilegious to doubt it. 
Letters from Moscow have since informed us, that 
bishop Augustin, vicar of that capital, having assem- 
bled all the troops in the town,t chanted a Te Deum 
and presenting them with the image of Saint Serge, 
pronounced a discourse which dissolved the whole 

* About fifteen leagues distant from Moscow. 

f Saturday, August 17th, or, according to our calender, August £3tli, 
which, as is well kriov-'n, anticipates the Russian calender by 12 days. 



MOSCOW. 153 

congregation in tears. We have seen these troops 
passing under the walls of our abbey, in their way 
to the battle of Moscow, and carrying with venera- 
tion that sacred standard. They marched to the 
combat like true christian soldiers, devoted to their 
religion, their country, and their prince. These sen- 
timents were expressed in their countenances; a ce- 
lestial joy beamed from their eyes at the thought of 
combatting the enemy. Every warrior, even those 
who had just entered the service, glowed with the 
ardour of most experienced veterans, and showed 
that unlimited submission to his chiefs, and observ- 
ed that strict discipline, which is the duty and the 
surest sign of a good soldier. The country people, 
who saw them pass, implored from the bottom of 
their hearts, the protection of heaven on these brave 
men who proceeded from the ancient capital of 
Russia, that city, which in former times, had, with 
her own forces, laid the insolent enemy in the dust, 
who presumptuously came to destroy it.' 

Filled with astonishment at the extraordinary 
things which this good old man had communicated 
to me, I felt the deepest respect for a nation so great 
even in its misfortunes ; and I said to myself, ' That 
people must be invincible, who, firm to their prin- 
ciples, shrink not at the approach of danger, and 
stake their own preservation on that of their religion 
and their laws.' 

Early on the following morning we quitted the 
abbey. As I retired from it, I looked behind, and 
saAv the first rays of the rising sun, gilding the sum- 
20 



154 MOSCOW. 

mit of those lofty walls, which had been erected as 
the asylum of peace, but which, after our departi'ire, 
became a prey to undisciplined brigands. I rumina- 
ted on these painful ideas, and, taking a road parallel 
with the Moskwa, I observed that bridges had been 
erected before Zwenighorod, with the intention of 
opening a communication with the grand army, who 
marched towards Moscow on the opposite bank. 
- We followed the course of the Moskwa, when 
the cossacks again appeared, manoeuvring just in the 
same manner as they had done the night before. — 
They attempted, for a moment, near Aksinino, to 
stop the Bavarian light horse ; but some of their 
men being wounded, they fled in disorder, and reti- 
red beyond the Moskwa, which we crossed below 
the village of Spaskoe. The river was shallow at 
that point, and both men and horses easily effected 
a passage. The cossacks, who waited for us at the 
entrance of a wood, dispersed when they saw that 
the barrier which separated them from us had been 
overstepped. Thence we pursued our march as far 
as Buzaievo, where the post-house alone remained, 
and a castle, on a very steep eminence, surrounded 
by woods, in which prince Eugene lodged. 

The following morning, (September 14th), anx- 
ious to arrive at Moscow, we commenced our 
march at an early hour, and passed through several 
deserted villages. On the banks of the Moskwa, 
towards our right, were some magnificent chateaux, 
which the cossacks had pillaged, to deprive us of 
every comfort which these places could afford. The 



MOSCOW. 155 

corn, ready for harvest, had either been trodden 
down, or eaten by the horses. The hay-stacks, 
which covered the country, were given to the flames, 
and spread all around an impenetrable smoke. 
When we at last reached the village of Tscherepko- 
va, and our cavalry continued their march, the 
viceroy ascended an eminence on our right, and 
long examined whether Moscow, the object of all 
our wishes, could be seen ; for we regarded it as 
the end of our fatigues and the termination of our 
expedition. Several hills yet concealing it from 
our view, we perceived nothing but clouds of dust, 
which, rising parallel with our march, indicated the 
route which the grand army had pursued. A few 
cannon-shots, fired at a distance, and with long in- 
tervals, disposed us to think that our troops were 
approaching Moscow, without experiencing much 
resistance. 

As we descended from the eminence, we suddenly 
heard the most dreadful cries. A troop of cossacks, 
issuing from a neighbouring wood, had, in their 
accustomed manner, rushed upon our chasseurs, and 
endeavoured to stop the march of our van-guard. 
But pur brave fellows, far from being intimidated by 
this unexpected attack, quickly repelled those vain 
efforts by which a powerless horde strove to impede 
our entrance into the capital. These were the last 
struggles of a desperate courage, and the Russians, 
beaten and dispersed, were obliged to fly, under the 
walls of the Kremlin, as they had before done on 
the banks of the Kologha. 



156 MOSCOW. 

We distinguished, at a distance, and amidst the 
dust, long columns of Russian cavahy, all marching 
towards Moscow, and all retiring behind the town, 
as soon as we approached it. While the fourth corps 
was constructing a bridge across the Moskwa, the 
staff, about two o'clock, established itself on a loftj 
• hill, whence we perceived a thousand elegant and 
gilded steeples, which, glittering in the rays of the 
sun, appeared at the distance like so many flaming 
globes. One of these globes, placed on the sum- 
mit of a pillar, or an obelisk, had the exact appear- 
ance of a balloon, suspended in the air. Transported 
with delight at this beautiful spectacle, which was 
the more gratifying, from the remembrance of the 
melancholy objects which w^e had hitherto seen, we 
could not suppress our joy ; but with one spontane- 
ous movement, we all exclaimed, Moscow ! Moscow ! 
At the sound of this wished-for name, the soldiers 
ran up the hill in crowds, and each discovered new 
wonders every instant. One admired a noble cha- 
teau on our left, the elegant architecture of which 
displayed more than eastern magnificence ; another 
directed his attention towards a palace or a temple ; 
but all were struck with the superb picture which 
this immense town afforded. It is situated in the 
midst of a fertile plain. The Moslnva is seen mean- 
dering through the richest meadows ; and, after hav- 
ing fertilized the neighbouring country, takes its 
course through the middle of the town, separating an 
immense cluster of houses, built of wood, stone, and 
bricks, constructed in a style which partakes of the 



MOSCOW. i.37 

gothic and modern architecture, and in which, in 
deed, the architecture of every different nation is 
strangely mingled. The walls, variously painted, 
the domes covered with lead, or slates, or glittering 
with gold, offered the most pleasing variety ; whilst 
the terraces before the palaces, the obelisks over the 
gates, and, above all, the steeples, really presented to 
our eyes one of those celebrated cities of Asia, which 
we had thought had only existed in the creative im- 
agination of the Arabian poets. 

We were still contemplating this noble spectacle, 
when we saw a well-dressed man coming towards 
us, through a by-way from Moscow. Several of 
our soldiers immediately ran to meet him, and, view- 
ing him with suspicion, were disposed to make him 
pay dearly for his imprudent curiosity. But the 
calmness with which he addressed us, and the flu- 
ency with which he spoke our language, and, above 
all, our impatience to hear some tidings from Mos- 
cow, made us all listen to him Avith pleasure and 
interest. 

^ I am not come here,' said he, ' to observe 
your manoeuvres, nor to give you false information ; 
I am an unfortunate merchant, ignorant of every 
thing which relates to war ; and, notwithstanding I 
am the victim, I have not inquired into the motives 
which have induced our sovereign to engage ia this 
fatal contest. Your emperor to-day, about noon, en- 
tered Moscow, at the head of his invincible legions : 
but he found only a deserted town. Some wretches, 
who have escaped from prison, and some miserable 



168 MOSCOW. ^ ' 

prostitutes, were the only creatures who interrupted 
its solitude. Hasten, if possible, to stop their ex- 
cesses. Liberty has only been granted them, with 
the hope, that all the crimes which they may commit 
will be attributed to the French army. Being aware 
of the misfortunes which threaten us, I came to find 
among you a man sufficiently generous to protect 
my family ; for, in spite of the orders of our govern- 
ment, I cannot consent to abandon my house, and 
to lead a wandering, miserable life in the woods. I 
prefer applying to French generosity, and I trust 
that I shall find a protector among those who have 
been ever represented to us as our most cruel ene- 
mies. The great men of our empire, deceived by 
a savage and destructive policy, will doubtless at- 
tempt to irritate you, by causing the whole popula- 
tion to emigrate, and leaving nothing but a deserted 
city, if indeed, it is not already sacrificed to the 
flames'. Every one interrupted him, saying, that 
it was impossible any people would thus effect their 
own ruin, from the uncertain hope of involving their 
enemy in it. 

' It is but too true that such a resolution is taken,' 
said this unhappy man, ' and, if you yet doubt it, 
know, that count Rastopchin, governor of Moscow, 
quitted it yesterday. Before he departed, he charged 
the very outcast of human beings to assist him in his 
revenge. How far he will proceed I know not ; but 
I tremble when I recollect that he has often threaten- 
ed to burn Moscow, if the French/ should approach 
it. Such barbarity must seem atrocious and even 



MOSCOW. 159 

incredible to you, if you are not aware of the deadly 
hatred which your unheard of victories have inspired 
in the nobihty. They know that the whole of Eu- 
rope is under your domination, and, from a senti- 
ment of pride, they would destroy their native coun- 
try, rather than see it subjugated. 

^ If the nobihty, ashamed of their defeats, had 
not meditated the destruction of the capital, why 
should they have fled with all their property ? Why 
have the merchants likewise been compelled to fol- 
low them, carrying with them their goods and their 
treasures ? Why, lastly, have no magistrates remain- 
ed in this desolated town, to implore the mercy of 
the conqueror ? They have all fled, and thus seem 
determined to urge your soldiers to every excess ; 
for the legal authorities, the only protection of the 
citizens, by abandoning their posts, have abandon- 
ed every thing.' 

This unfortunate Moscovite shed many bittter 
tears while he thus addressed us. To calm his grief 
we promised what he requested, and endeavoured to 
console him, by dissipating those fears, too well 
founded, which the dangers of his unhappy coun- 
try had excited. We questioned him as to the direc- 
tion in which the Russians had retreated ; what they 
had done since the battle of the Moskwa, and, lastly, 
what was become of the emperor Alexander and his 
brother Constantine ? He answered all our questions 
in the most satisfactory manner, and confirmed the 
intelligence which had been already communicated 
to me by the friar in Zwenighorod. This unhappy 



160 MOSCOW. 

man becoming more composed, and being secretly 
flattered by the agreeable surprise which the sight of 
Moscow and its environs had caused, consented at 
my request to give us some account of a city, the 
conquest of which promised to crown all our hopes. 
He expressed himself as follows : — 

' Moscow, built in the Asiatic style, has five enclo- 
sures, one within another ; the last comprising the 
town and its suburbs, is about thirty werstes* in cir- 
cumference ; but the fourth enclosure, which com- 
prises the town only, and which is called Semhingo- 
rod, is but twelve. The suburbs, or slobodes, are 
thirty in number. In winter, the population amounts 
to three hundred thousand souls ; but on the ap- 
proach of summer, every one retires to his country- 
house, and this number diminishes one third. 

* The high towers and the embattled walls, 
which you see rising in the midst of the town, trace 
the first enclosure, called Kremlin. This fortress in 
the form of a perfect triangle, is celebrated in our 
annals, and has never been taken.f The plan of it 
was drawn, towards the fourteenth century, by some 
Italian architects. J The interior of the Kremlin is di- 



* Seven leagues. 

f The people of Moscow believe that the preservation of the em- 
pire depended on the towers of this ancient fortress. A false tradi- 
tion persuaded them that it never had been taken. Thus, to express 
the idea of security, it was a common saying, As safe as tvithix 
THE Kremi;,ix. 

X Voltair's Histoire dc Riissia, volume I. page 50, stereotype edi- 
tion. 



MOSCOW. 161 

vided into two parts ; the one called Krcpots^ or cita- 
del, contains only the palace, and some churches, 
each of which is surmounted by five domes. From 
this place you may perfectly distinguish them, as 
much by their elevation as by the gilding of the 
steeples, and their fantastical architecture. In the 
second enclosure are some noble houses, commercial 
streets, and the place called Bazar ^ or Khitaigorod, a 
name given it by the Tartars, who were its founders. 

' Fcedor, the elder brother of Peter the Great, 
began to improve Moscow. He constructed several 
buildings of stone, but without any regular architec- 
ture. To him we owe the first stud of beautiful hors- 
es, and some useful embeUishments.* Although Peter 
had a particular affection for Petersburg, n evertheless 
his genius, which embraced every thing, did not neg- 
lect Moscow. He caused it to be paved, adorned it 
with many superb edifices, and enriched it with va- 
luable manufactures ; and, lastly, under Elizabeth, 
a university was established.! 

* The arsenal within the krepots, is remarkable 
foR six culverins, mounted on fixed carriages, the 
largest of which is twenty-four feet in length. Near 
the principal gate, is likewise an enormous howitzer, 
at least three feet in diameter. Further on is the an- 
cient palace of the Czars. It is the residence of our 
emperors. Yours has now established himself there 

■^ Voltaire's Histoire de Russie, vol. I. page 5i, 
' T(hm. 

21. 



162 MOSCOW. 

B ehind is the palace of the senate ; near which is the 
cathedral of St. Iwan, and the foundation of an an- 
cient tower, with the famous bell which was cast in 
Moscow, towards the middle of the sixteenth centu- 
ry, under the Czar Boris Godono. It is an astonishing* 
production, and proves, that even at that remote pe- 
riod, the Russians had made great progress in civili- 
zation and the fine arts. This bell, justly admired 
for the beauty of the figures which surround it, sur- 
passes in size the most famous in Europe.* 

* From the krepots you enjoy a delightful prospect. 
On the right and* left are two bridges, across the 
Moskwa. Beyond the river are some magnificent 
palaces ; and in the back-ground is a fine country, 
embellished with many noble mansions.' 

But said I, interrupting the Moscovite, tell us what 
immense fabric is this with an infinite number of 
windows on each side, and which, by its enormous 
magnitude, seems to command the whole town ? 

* It is the hospital Sheremitow,' answered he, 
^ built by the illustrious family of that name. One 
of their ancestors was the glorious companion in 
arms of Peter the Great ; and the riches which he ac- 
quired, were always devoted to the prosperity and 
glory of the nation. In this building were educated 
the orphans and the children of those who have de- 
fended the country. But at present the children have 
been removed, and their fathers, to the number of 

^' Voltaire's Histoire de Russia, torn. 1. page 51. 



MOSCOW. 163 

twenty thousand who have been gloriously wounded 
at Mojaisk, occupy their places. These unhappy 
men are abandoned, death is before their eyes ; and 
if your generosity does not in this moment of 
calamity afford them assistance, they will be left to 
die in the most frightful torments. 

' From the gate of Petersburg to that of Kaluga, 
numerous palaces are seen, which, by their riches 
and magnificence, attract the attention of the travel- 
ler. All these palaces are newly constructed, and 
announce the prodigious wealth that Russia has ac- 
cumulated within these few years. But the most 
astonishing of all, is the palace of Orlow. It belongs 
to the only heiress of this name, whose income ex- 
ceeds six millions of rubles.* The extent of this 
palace is immense, and the beauty of the interior 
corresponds with the spacious courts and enchant- 
ing gardens which surround it. 

' You will find in my country,' added the Mosco- 
vite, ^ a great number of edifices, justly celebrated as 
the most beautiful in Europe. It is useless to des- 
cribe them to you, since you will soon see them your- 
selves. I wish that you may long admire them, but a 
fatal presentiment convinces me, that this great and 
superb town, justly considered as the market of Eu- 
rope and of Asia, will, ere long, astonish the world 
by the most dreadful catastrophe.' 

As he uttered these words the unfortunate man 
seemed suffocated with grief. I pitied him ; but I 

* One million sterling. 



164 MOSCOW. 

could not leave him without asking the name of thai 
great building of red and white brick, which was seen 
to the north of the town, on the road to Petersburg. 
He informed me, that it ivas the famous chateau of 
Peterskoe, where the sovereigns af Russia used to 
reside previous to their coronation. 

Although the bridge over the Moskwa was not yet 
finished, the viceroy ordered the troops of his corps to 
cross the river. The cavalry had already passed it, 
and had taken post before the village of Khorchevo. 
We were here officially informed of the entry of Our 
troops into Moscow. The fourth corps received 
orders to halt at this place till the following day, 
^vhen an hour would be appointed for us to enter 
the capital of the Russian empire. 

On the 15th of September our corps left the vil- 
lage, where it had encamped, at an early hour, and 
marched to Moscow. As we approached the city, 
we saw that it had no walls, and that a simple para- 
pet of earth was the only work which constituted the 
outer enclosure. Nothing indicated that the town 
was inhabited ; and the road by which we arrived was 
so deserted, that we saw neither Russian or even 
French soldiers. No cry, ilo noise was heard, in the 
midst of this awful solitude. We pursued our march 
a prey to the utmost anxiety, and that anxiety was 
redoubled when we perceived a thick smoke, which 
arose in the form of a column, from the centre of the 
town. It was at first believed that the Russians, 
agreeably to their custom, had, in retreating, set fire 
to some magazines. Recollecting, however, the re~ 



'i^ 



MOSCOW. 163 

cital of the inhabitant of Moscow, we feared that his 
prediction was about to be fulfilled. Eager to know 
the cause of this conflagration, we in vain endeav- 
ored to find some one who might satisfy our irrepres- 
sible curiosity, and the impossibility of satisfying it, 
increased our impatience, and augmented our alarm. 

We did not enter at the first barrier that presented 
itself, but, moving to the left, we continued to march 
round the town. At length, according to the orders 
of the viceroy, I placed the troops of the fourth corps 
in a position, to guard the high road towards Peters- 
burgh. The thirteenth and fifteenth divisions, en- 
camped around the chateau of Peterskoe, the four- 
teenth established itself in the village between Mos- 
cow and this chateau^ and the Bavarian light caval- 
ry was a league in front of the village. 

When these positions were taken, the viceroy en- 
tered Moscow, and fixed his head-quarters in the pal- 
ace of prince Momonofl', in the beautiful street of St. 
Petersburg. The quarter assigned to our corps was 
one of the finest in the town. It was composed en- 
tirely of superb edifices,and of houses,which,although 
of wood, had an appearance of surprising grandeur 
and magnificence. The magistrates having abandon- 
ed the town, every one established himself at his plea- 
sure in these sumptuous palaces ; even the subaltern 
officer was lodged in vast apartments richly decorated, 
and of which he could easily fancy himself to be the 
proprietor, since no one appeared but a humble and 
submissive porter, who, with a trembling hand, de- 
livered to him the kevs of the mansion. 



166 MOSCOW. 

Although Moscow had been entered by some of 
our troops the preceding day, so extensive and so de- 
serted was the town that no soklier had yet penetrated 
into the quarter which we were to occupy. The most 
intrepid minds were affected by this loneliness. The 
streets were so long that our cavalry could not recog- 
nize each other from the opposite extremities. They 
were seen advancing with caution : then, struck with 
fear, they suddenly fled from each other, though they 
Tvere all enlisted under the same banners. In propor- 
tion as a new quarter was occupied, reconnoitring 
parties were sent forward to examine the palaces and 
the churches. In the former were found only old men, 
children, or Russian officers, who had been wounded 
in the preceding engagements: in the latter, the altars 
were decorated as if for a festival ; a thousand lighted 
tapers burning in honour of the patron saint of the 
country, attested that the pious Moscovites had not 
ceased to invoke him till the moment of their depar- 
ture. This solemn and religious spectacle, rendered 
the people whom we had conquered, powerful and re- 
spectable in our estimation, and filled us with that 
consternation which is the offspring of injustice. 
With cautious steps we advanced through this awful 
Solitude ; often stopping and looking fearfully behind 
us; then, struck with sudden terror, we eagerly listenr 
ed to every sound ; for the imagination, frightened 
at the very magnitude of our conquest, made us 
apprehensive of treachery in every place. At the 
least noise we fancied that we heard the clashing 
of arms, and the cries of the wounded. 



MOSCOW. 167 

Approaching however, towards the centre of 
ihe town, and especially in the neighborhood of the 
Bazar, we began to see some inhabitants assembled 
around the Kremhn. These deluded beings, deceiv- 
ed by a national tradition, had believed that this cita- 
del was impregnable, and had attempted the preced- 
ing day to defend it for an instant against our valiant 
legions. Dismayed by their defeat, they contem- 
plated with tears, those lofty towers which they had 
hitherto regarded as the palladium of their city. Pro- 
ceeding further on, we saw a crowd of soldiers, who 
exposed to public sale a vast quantity of articles 
which they had pillaged ; for it was only at the grand 
magazines of provisions that the imperial guards had 
placed sentinels. Continuing our progress, the num- 
ber of soldiers multipled ; they were seen in troops, 
carrying on their backs pieces of cloth, loaves of 
sugar, and whole bales of merchandise. We knew 
not how to account for this shocking disorder, when 
at length some fusileers of the guards informed us 
that the smoke which we had seen on entering the 
town proceeded from a vast building, full of goods, 
called the exchange, and which the Russians had set 
on fire in their retreat. ' Yesterday,' said these sol- 
diers, ' we entered the city about twelve o'clock, 
and towards five, the fire began to appear. We en- 
deavored at first to extinguish it, but we soon learned 
that the governor had sent away all the engines. It 
is also believed,' added they, ' that this fire, which, 
cannot be subdued, has been kindled by the nobility^ 
with an intention of exciting us to plunder, and de~ 



168 MOSCOW 

stroying our discipline ; and likewise witii the de- 
termination to ruin those merchants who opposed 
the abandonment of Moscow.' 

A natural curiosity made me proceed. As I ad- 
vanced towards the fire, the avenues were still more 
obstructed by soldiers and beggars carrying off goods 
of every kind. The less precious articles were des- 
pised, and soon thrown away, and the streets were 
covered with merchandise of every description. I 
penetrated at length into the interior of the exchange : 
but, alas ! it was no more the building so renowned 
for its magnificence ; it was rather a vast furnace, 
from eveiy side of which the burning rafters were 
continually falling, and threatening us with instant 
destruction. I could still, however, proceed with 
some degree of safety under the piazzas. These 
were filled with numerous warehouses, which the 
soldiers had broken open ; every chest was rifled, and 
the spoil exceeded all their expectations. No cry, 
no tumult was heard in this scene of horror. Every 
one found abundantly sufficient to satisfy his thirst 
for plunder. Nothing was heard but the crackling 
of the flames, and the noise of the doors that were 
broken open ; and occasionally a dreadful crash,caus- 
ed by the falling in of some vault. Cottons, muslins, 
and in short, all the most costly productions of Eu- 
rope and of Asia, were a prey to the flames. The 
cellars were filled with sugar, oil, and vitriol ; these 
burning all at once in the subterraneous warehouses, 
sent forth torrents of flame through thick iron grates, 
and presented a striking image of the mouth of hell. 



MOSCOW. ] 6S 

It was a spectacle both terrible and affecting. Even 
the most hardened minds were struck with a con- 
viction that so great a calamity would on some 
future day, call forth the vengeance of the Almighty 
upon the authors of such crimes. 

The information which I endeavoured to obtain, 
with regard to the causes of this fire, were very un- 
satisfactory ; but, returning in the evening to the pa- 
lace where our staff was quartered, I met a French- 
man there, who had been tutor to the children of 

prince . This gentleman possessed much 

general knowedge, and a sound judgment in politics. 
His conversation was the more interesting, as he had 
long lived among the Russian nobility, and was per- 
fectly acquainted with their character and views,. 
Moreover, the events which happened in Moscow 
since the battle of the Moskwa, had passed under 
his observation, and although a Frenchman, he form- 
ed one of the small number of those, who, by their 
talents and their prudence had always been on a foot- 
ing of intimacy with count Rastopchin. This meet- 
ing was extremely fortunate, as it gave me an oppoi'- 
tunity of learning what I was so desirous to know ; 
particularly the true character of the governor, who, 
notwithstanding the blackest calumnies, will always 
be revered by his- fellow-citizens, and will be cited 
by future generations as a' model of courage apd 
patriotism. 

' Although the French advanced towards Mos- 
cow in three columns,' said the tutor. ' so much 



170 MOSCOW. 

prudence was employed by count Rastopchin,in con- 
cealing the truth from the people, that none but the 
nobility, and the persons attached to the governmentv 
were acquainted with the terrible disasters with which 
the city was threatened. This, it is true, contributed 
to prolong our illusions ; but when we saw the Rus- 
sian army return within these'walls,preceded by thirty 
thousand wounded,and dragging after them the whole 
population of the country, the citizens renounced their 
peaceable occupations, and abandoned themselves to 
the utmost agitation. All societies were dissolved, 
and the public institutions deserted. Even the me- 
chanics, renouncing the work that supphed their 
families with bread, shut up their shops, and shar- 
ing in the consternation, which was become univer- 
sal, mixed with the immense crowd which was 
running to the governor's house, to know whether 
they were to fly or remain. 

In this painful and critical situation, the count 
Rastopchin, surrounded by the most illustrious of 
the nobility, and by the richest and most esteemed 
among the merchants, reminded his fellow-citizens 
of the solemn promises which they had made to their 
emperor. He recalled to their minds that memora- 
ble scene, when the sovereign, the father of his 
country, received from his children the homage of 
their fortunes and their lives. At this recollection, 
the governor, overpowered by the sentiments which 
agitated him,was almost suffocated by excess of feel- 
ing, and lost the faculty of speech. This silent scene 
lasted several minutes, and produced more tears than 



MOSCOW. 171 

the most eloquent harangue would have done. But the 
interest of the state, conquering a sensibiHty so natu- 
ral, and so affecting, a nobleman in the assembly, who, 
from his diplomatic office, was well acquainted with 
the cause that had produced this disastrous war. 
addressed them in the following words : — 

^ " Inhabitants of Moscow ! If you knew how 
the paternal heart of our monarch has suffered, and 
the means he has employed to ensure the repose and 
happiness of his empire — if you knew even how 
much his love of peace, and his desire to maintain 
even a disadvantageous alliance, have made him ne- 
glect the interests of his giory — you could then alone 
form an adequate idea of that excellent prince, who 
told us six weeks ago, I have neglected nothing to en- 
sure the peace of my country ; but the more sacrifices 
I made, the more were demanded by our enemy. 
For our justification in the eyes of posterity, we 
must avow that we have taken up arms, only in the 
utmost extremity ; and at the moment when our glo- 
rious empire was compelled to choose between the 
chances of war, or the infamy of having its laurels 
blasted. But, since injustice forces us to the com- 
bat, why should we fear it. For more than a cen- 
tury, war has always been to us favorable and glo- 
rious. The north was formerly the terror of the 
south ; and now, when the north approaches to civi- 
lization, and wishes for universal peace, the south, 
blinded by an ungovernable and fatal ambition,aban- 
dons its rich provinces, to overrun our frozen re- 
gions. Is it then necessary always to be the oppres 



172 • MOSCOW. 

sor, in order not to be oppressed ; and must my ^- 
cific sentiments be now the misfortmie of my reign ? 
In vain this scourge of mankind alleges, that he 
wages a warof poHcy, and that this is the struggle 
of civilization against barbarism ! a clumsy artifice, 
which can deceive those only who are unacquainted 
with our manners and principles. This civilization, 
so highly vaunted, what has it to fear from us, who 
exhaust our treasures, who traverse the seas, and 
explore both hemispheres, to cultivate and to natu- 
ralize it in our climate ? And those to whom we go 
for instruction, and who enrich themselves by selling 
us the productions of their industry, these very peo- 
ple dare to call us barbarians ? No, no, this is not the 
motive of the war which the ungrateful Napoleon 
makes upon us. He fears our rapid progress more 
than our barbarism. In fact, what nation is virtuous 
enough, not to be jealous of the miraculous protec- 
tion which Providence grants to our empire. It is 
scarcely a century, since Peter, of illustrious mem- 
ory, placed it in the rank of great nations ; and 
since that time, how many countries have been sub- 
dued!— how many cities have been captured! — how 
many provinces reduced to submisssion ! Yet, let us 
rather consider as the noblest trophies, the towns 
that have been founded, the districts that have been 
civilized ; the universities, colleges, and institutions, 
which have been established ; and you will find, that, 
in a short space of time, we have effaced the line 
which separated the civilized from barbarised Eu- 
rope. It is our spirit of civilization, so closely re- 



MOSCOW. 173 

sembling that of which the French are vain, which 
now attracts their hatred. They reproach us for our 
conquests over the Persians and Turks, pretending 
not to know that it is owing to the terror with which 
we have inspired the Mussehnen, that Europe has 
ceased to be invaded by these infidels. Hungary owes 
to us its safety, and Italy its preservation : far differ- 
ent, in this respect, from our enemies whose con- 
quests are only a new subject of dissention and 
war, with their neighbours." 

' This is the substance of the memorable speech 
which the emperor Alexander pronounced in the 
assembly of the nobles ; and which the orator most 
judiciously repeated, as best calculated to rouse the 
courage of those who had not been present. Count 
Rastopchin, who hitherto had listened with silent 
attention, seeing that the inhabitants of Moscow, 
were sufficiently prepared, rose immediately from 
his seat, and, running to the balcony, which open- 
ed on the great square, he thus addressed the 
people there assembled : 

' " Brave Moscovites ! 

^ " Our enemy advances ; and you already hear 
the roar of the cannon, not far from our suburbs. 
This bad man wishes to overwhelm a throne, the 
splendour of which eclipses his own. We have 
yielded ground, but Ave are not conquered. You 
know that our emperor, in imitation of his ancestors, 
resides in the camp. Our armies are almost un- 
touched, and are reinforced every day by new levies ; 



174 MOSCOW. 

but those of our perfidious enemy, arrive exhausted, 
annihilated. Insensible man ! he thought t]iat his 
victorious eagle, after having wandered from the 
banks of the Tagus to the sources of the Volga, 
Gould subdue one, which, reared in the midst of 
the Kremlin, proudly hovers over our heads, 
extending one wing towards the pole, and reaching 
with the other beyond the Bosphorus. 

' " Let us persevere, and I venture to predict 
that our country will reappear from the midst of its 
ruins, greater and more majestic than before. But, 
to attain an end so desirable consider, my friends, 
that the greatest sacrifices must be made, and the 
dearest affections renounced. It behoves you now 
to prove yourselves worthy descendants of the Po- 
jarskies, the Palitsires, and of the Minines, who, in 
the most unhappy times, established, by their cour- 
age, the belief that the Kremlin is inviolable. Cher- 
ish this pious tradition, and maintain it, by arming 
yourselves against our dangerous enemy, who wishes 
to annihilate our empire, and to pillage our altars. 
Sacrifice every thing to obtain a victory, or be con- 
tent to lose your honour, your fortunes, and your 
independence. But if God, in the dispensations of 
his wisdom, should allow vice to triumph for a mo- 
ment, remember that it will be your sacred duty to 
fly into the deserts, and to forsake a country which 
will no longer be yours, when the presence of your 
oppressors has polluted it. The inhabitants of Sa- 
ragossa, still recollecting the immortal courage of 
their ancestors, who to escape the yoke of the Ro~ 



MOSCOW. 175 

mans, kindled a funeral pile, and immolated their 
families and themselves, have, like them, chosen 
rather to perish under the ruins of their town, than 
submit to injustice. The same tyranny now threat- 
ens to crush us. Let us show to'the whole imiverse, 
that the glorious example of the Spaniards has not 
been lost upon the Russians." 

•^ After this speech the most violent agitation 
succeeded, and an ungovernable populace, running 
through the principal streets, cried aloud that it was 
better to perish than to outlive their country and their 
religion. Those on whom nature had not bestowed 
the most ardent courage, ran to their homes to save 
their families from the impending danger. Some 
fled with haste from the city. Others on the con- 
trary, vowed to defend it, whilst the rest of the pop- 
ulation seizing their arms, either took refuge in the 
Kremlin, or, with torches in their hands, set fire to 
the exchange, which contained, as you know, im- 
mense riches, and where the French army might 
have found means of subsistence during the winter.' 

This was the account which the worthy tutor 
gave me of all that had happened at Moscow, previ- 
ous to our arrival there. We both lamented these 
calamitous events ; but, the day being calm, we ho- 
ped that the fire would not extend beyond the ex- 
change. But what was our regret and our terror, 
when on the following morning, at the dawn of day 
(September 16), we saw the conflagration raging on 
every side, and perceived that the wind, blowing 
with violence, spread the flames in all directions. 



,.r 



':^-r 



176 MOSCOW. 

The most heart-rending scene which my imagi- 
nation had ever conceived, far surpassing the most 
afflicting accounts in ancient or modern history, now 
presented itself before our eyes. A great part of the 
population of Moscow, frightened at our arrival, had 
concealed themselves in cellars or secret recesses of 
their houses. As the fire spread around, we saw 
them rushing in despair from their various asylums. 
They uttered no imprecation, they breathed no com- 
plaint, but, carrying with, them their most precious 
effects, fled before the flames. Others, of greater 
sensibility, and actuated by the genuine feelings of 
nature, saved only their children, who were closely 
clasped in their arms. Many old people, borne down 
by grief rather than by age, had not sufficient strength 
to follow their families, and expired near the houses 
i|i which they were born. The streets, the public 
places, and particularly the churches, were filled 
with these unhappy people, who, lying on the remains 
of their property, suffered even without a murmur. 
No contention or noise was heard. Both the 
conqueror and the conquered were equally hard- 
ened : the one from excess of fortune — the other 
ftom excess of misery. 

The fire, whose ravages could not be restrainedj 
soon reached the finest parts of the city. Those pa- 
laces which we had admired for the beauty of their 
architecture, and the elegance of their furniture, were 
enveloped in the flames. Their magnificent fronts, 
ornamented with bas-reliefs and statues, fell with a 
dreadful crash on the fragments of the pillars which 



MOSCOW. 177 

had supported them. The churches, though covered 
with iron and lead, were Ukewise destroyed, and 
with them those beautiful steeples, which we had 
seen the night before, resplendent with gold and 
silver. The hospitals, too, which contained more 
than twenty thousand wounded, soon began to burn. 
This offered a harrowing and dreadful spectacle ; 
almost all these poor wretches perished. A few 
who still lingered, were seen crawling, half burnt, 
amongst the smoking ruins ; and others, groaning 
under heaps of dead bodies, endeavoured in vain to 
extricate themselves from the horrible destruction 
which surrounded them. 

How shall I describe the confusion and tumult 
when permission was granted to pillage this im- 
mense city ! Soldiers, sutlers, galley-slaves, and pros- 
titutes, eagerly ran through the streets, penetratiag 
into the deserted palaces, and carrying away every 
thing which could gratify their avarice. Some 
covered themselves with stuffs, richly worked 
with gold ; some were enveloped in beautiful and 
costly furs ; while others dressed themselves in 
women's and children's pelisses, and even the gal- 
ley slaves concealed their rags under the most 
splendid court dresses ; the rest crowded into the 
cellars, and forcing open the doors, drank the most 
luscious wines, and carried off an immense booty. 

This horrible pillage was not confined to the de- 
serted houses alone, but extended to those which 
were inhabited, and soon the eagerness and wan- 
tonness of the plunderers, caused devastations 
23 



il^ MOSCOW. 

which ahnost equalled those occasioned by the 
conflagration. Every asylum was soon violated by 
the licentious troops. The inhabitants who had 
officers in their houses, for a little while flattered 
themselves that they should escape the general 
calamity. Vain illusion ! the fire, progressively 
increasing, soon destroyed all their hopes. 

Towards evening, when Napoleon no longer 
thought himself safe in a city, the ruin of which 
seemed inevitable, he left the Kremlin, and estab- 
lished himself, with his suite, in the castle of Peters- 
koe. When I saw him pass by, I could not, without 
abhorrence, behold the chief of a barbarous expedi- 
tion, who evidently endeavoured to escape the de- 
cided testimony of public indignation, by seeking 
the darkest road. He sought it, however, in vain. 
On every side the flames seemed to pursue him, 
and their horrible and mournful glare, flashing on 
his guilty head, reminded me of the torches of the 
Eumenides, pursuing the destined victims of the 



tunes 



The generals likewise received orders to quit 
Moscow. Licentiousness then became unbounded. 
The soldiers no longer restrained by the presence of 
their chiefs, committed every kind of excess. No 
retreat was now safe, no place sufficiently sacred to 
afford any protection against their rapacity. Nothing 
more forcibly excited their avarice than the church 
of St. Michael, the sepulchre of the Russian empe- 
rors. An erroneous tradition had propagated the be- 
lief that it contained immense riches. Some grena- 



M03C0W. 179 

dieis presently entered it, and descended with torches 
into the vast subterranean vaults, to disturb the peace 
and silence of the tomb. But instead of treasures, 
they found only stone coffins, covered with pink vel- 
vet, with thin silver plates, on which were engraved 
the names of the czars, and the date of their birth 
and decease. Mortified at this disappointment, 
they again searched every part of the building, and 
at length perceived, at the end of a dark gallery, a 
lamp, the half extinguished light of which fell on a 
small altar. They immediately proceeded towards 
it, and the first object Vv?hich presented itself to their 
notice, was a young female, elegantly dressed, and 
in the attitude of devotion. At the noise of the 
soldiers, the unhappy girl screamed violently, and 
fell into a swoon. In that situation she was carri- 
ed before one of our generals. 

As long as I have life I shall retain the impression 
which the appearance of that young lady, pale, and 
almost dying, produced on my mind. Her counte- 
nance, in which grief and despair W€re equally legi- 
ble, w^as irresistibly interesting. As her recollection 
returned, she seemed to deprecate the care which was 
employed in recalling her to life. While we gazed 
on her lovely form, every bosom w^as inspired with 
pity, and we all w^ere anxious to become acquaint- 
ed with her history. The general, in particular, but 
from very different motives, seemed eager to hear it .* 
and, sending most of those who were present away^ 
he begged her to relate to him her misfortunes. 



180 MOSCOW 

' Of what use,' said she, ^ would it be to men- 
tion to you the wealth of a house, which will soon 
be annihilated ? Suffice it, that the name of my father 
is celebrated in the history of our empire ; and that 
he is now serving with distinction in the army, which 
is gloriously fighting in defence of our country. My 
name is Paulowna. On the day preceding your en- 
trance into Moscow, I was to be united to one of the 
young warriors, who had distinguished himself at the 
battle of Mojaisk. But amidst the nuptial solemni- 
ties, my father was informed that the French were at 
the gates of the city, and, suspending our marriage, 
and taking my husband with him, they hastened to 
join the army. Early on the following morning, be- 
ing with my afflicted family, we heard the roar of the 
cannon; and, the noise evidently approaching nearer, 
we no longer doubted that we must quit Moscow. 
In the midst of this dreadful tumult, I fled with my 
relations ; but, when we arrived near the Kremlin, an 
immense crowd met us, and, rushing hastily by, part- 
ed me from my mother and sisters. I endeavoured, 
in vain, to recall them by my cries. The noise of 
arms, and the cries of an infuriated populace, over- 
powered my feeble voice, and in an instant 1 was 
rendered truly miserable. The French, meanwhile, 
penetrated into the town, and, driving all before 
them, advanced towards the Kremlin. To find a 
shelter against their excesses, I, with many others, 
ran into the citadel, which was considered a place of 
i?ecurity. As I could not mix with the combatants, 



MOSCOW. 181 

I retired to the church of St. Michael, seeking refuge 
among the graves of the czars. Kneeling near their 
sepulchres, I invoked the manes of those illustrious 
founders of our country, when, on a sudden, some 
wicked soldiers broke in upon my retreat, and drag- 
ged me away from an inviolable and sacred asykim.' 
When the unhappy girl had finished her history, she 
shed a torrent of tears ; and, throwing herself at the 
general's feet, implored him to respect her virtue, and 
restore her to her relations. He was more interest- 
ed by her beauty than by her tears ; but, pretending 
to pity her misfortunes, he pledged himself to re- 
lieve them. He offered her his house as a protec- 
tion ; and, to retain her there, he promised to use his 
utmost endeavours to discover her father and her 
destined husband. But, as I knew the disposition 
of the man, I clearly perceived, that this apparent 
generosity was only a snare to deceive the innocent 
Faulowna. There wanted nothing more to com- 
plete the horrors of that day, when he resolved to 
outrage virtue and seduce innocence ; and Ave 
afterwards found that neither noble blood, nor the 
candour of youth, nor even the tears of beauty, 
were respected. 

Penetrated by so many calamities, I hoped that 
the shades of night would cast a veil over the dread- 
ful scene ; but they contributed, on the contrary, to 
render the conflagration more visible. The violence 
of the flames which extended from north to south, 
and were strangely agitated by the wind, produced 
the most awful appearance, on a sky which was dar- 



182 MOSCOW. 

kenecl by the thickest smoke. Nothing could equal 
the anguish which absorbed every feeling heart, and 
which was increased in the dead of the night, by 
the cries of the miserable victims who were savagely 
murdered, or by the screams of the young females, 
who fled for protection to their weeping mothers, 
and whose ineffectual struggles tended only to in- 
flame the passions of their violators. To these dread- 
ful groans and heart-rending cries, which every mo- 
ment broke upon the ear, were added, the bowlings 
of the dogs, which, chained to the doors of the pal- 
aces, according to the custom at Moscow, could not 
escape from the fire which surrounded them. 

I flattered myself that sleep would for a while re- 
lease me from these revolting scenes ; but the most 
frightful recollections crowded upon me, and all the 
horrors of the evening again passed in review. My 
wearied senses seemed at last sinking into repose 
when the light of a near and dreadful conflagration, 
piercing into my room, suddenly awoke me. I 
thought that my room was a prey to the flames. It 
was no idle dream, for when I approached the win- 
dow, I saw that our quarters were on fire, and that 
the house in which I lodged, was in the utmost dan- 
ger. Sparks were thickly falling in our yard, and on 
the wooden roof of our stables. I ran quickly to my 
landlord and his family. Perceiving their danger, 
they had already quitted their habitation, and had re- 
tired to a subterranean vault, which afforded them 
more security. I found them with their servants all 
assembled there, nor could I prevail on them to leave 



MOSCOW. - 18^ 

it, for they dreaded our soldiers more than the fire. 
The father was sitting on the threshold of the door, 
and appeared desirous of appeasing, by the sacrifice 
of his own life, the ferocity of those barbarians, who 
advanced to insult his family. Two of his daugh- 
ters, pale, with dishevelled hair, and whose tears ad- 
ded to their beauty, disputed with him the honour of 
the martyrdom. I at length succeeded in snatching 
them by violence from the asylum, under which they 
would otherwise soon have been buried. These un- 
happy creatures when they again saw the light, con- 
templated with indifference the loss of all their prop- 
erty, and were only astonished that they were still 
alive. Notwithstanding they were convinced that 
they would be protected from all personal injury, 
they did not exhibit any tokens of gratitude ; but, 
like those wretches, who, having been ordered to 
execution, are quite bewildered, when a reprieve 
unexpectedly arrives, and the agonies of death ren- 
der them insensible to the gift of life. 

Desirous of terminating the recital of this horri- 
ble catastrophe, for which history wants expres- 
sions, and poetry has no colours, I shall pass over, 
in silence, many circumstances revolting to human- 
ity, and merely describe the dreadful confusion 
which arose in our army, when the fire had reached 
every part of Moscow, and the whole city was be- 
come one immense flame. 

A long row of carriages were perceived through 
the thick smoke, loaded with booty. Being too heavi- 



^,. 



&s 



184 MOSCOW. 

ly laden for the exhausted cattle to draw them along 
they were obliged to halt at every step, when we heard 
the execration of their drivers, who, terrified at the 
surrounding flames, endeavored to push forward, with 
dreadful outcries. The soldiers, still armed, were di- 
ligently employed in forcing open every door. They 
seemed to fear lest they should leave one house un- 
touched. Some, when their carriages were laden 
almost to breaking down, bore the rest of their booty 
on their backs. The fire, however obstructing the 
passage of the principal streets, often obliged them 
to retrace their steps. Thus wandering from place 
to place, through an immense town, the avenues of 
which they did not know, they sought, in vain, to 
extricate themselves from this labyrinth of fire. 
Many wandered further from the gates by which they 
might have escaped, instead of approaching them, 
and thus became the victims of their own rapacity. 
In spite, however, of the extreme peril which threat- 
ened them, the love of plunder induqed our soldiers 
to brave every danger. Stimulated by an irresistible 
desire of pillage, they precipitated themselves into 
the midst of the flames. They waded in blood, 
treading upon the dead bodies without remorse, 
while the ruins of the houses, mixed with burning 
coals, fell thick on their murderous hands. They 
would probably all have perished, if the insupport- 
able heat had not forced them at length to withdraw 

into the camp. 

The fourth corps having received orders to leave 

Moscow, we proceeded (September 17th,) towards 



MOSCOW. 185 

Feterskoe, where our divisions were encamped. At 
that moment about the dawn of day, I witnessed the 
most dreadful and the most affecting scenes which it 
is possible to conceive ; namely, the unhappy inhab- 
itants drawing upon some mean vehicles all that they 
had been able to save from the conflagration. The 
soldiers, having robbed them of their horses, the 
men and women were slowly and painfully dragging 
along these little carts, some of which contained an 
infirm mother, others a paralytic old man, and others 
the miserable wrecks of half-consumed furniture ; 
children, half nakedjfoll owed these interesting groups. 
Affliction, to which their age is commonly a stranger, 
was impressed even on their features, and, when the 
soldiers approached them, they ran crying into the 
arms of their mothers. Alas ! what habitation could 
we have offered them which would not constantly re=- 
call the object of their terror? Without a shelter and 
without food, these unfortunate beings wandered in 
the fields, and fled into the woods 5 but wherever they 
bent their steps, they met the conquerors of Moscow, 
who frequently ill-treated them, and sold before their 
eyes, the goods which had been stolen from their own 
deserted habitations. 



.24 



PART 11. 



BOOK VI. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ, 

The arrival of a victorious French army in the 
ancient capital of the czars, in the richest and most 
central city of Russia, which a religious belief had 
hitherto considered as sacred, was one of the most 
extraordinary occurrences of modern history. 

Our former conquests had, for some years accus- 
tomed Europe to behold our vast and most astonish- 
ing plans crowned with complete success. But, of all 
our expeditions, none had, like this, an appearance of 
imposing grandeur, calculated to seduce those who 
were fond of the marvellous ; while the difficulty of 
the enterprise equalled every romantic tale that the 
Persians, the Greeks, or the Romans, had conceived* 
The distance from Paris to Moscow, nearly equal to 
that which separated the capital of Alexander from 
the residence of Darius ; the nature of the country 
and rigour of the climate, which had been hitherto 
supposed inaccessible to the armies of Europe ; the 
recollection of Charles XII. who, wishing to attempt 



188 MALO-JAROSLAVIliZ. 

a similar project, did not dare to pass Smolensko ; the 
terror of the Asiatic nations, astonished to see the 
people who had fled before us, arrive amongst ihemj 
all, in short, concurred to give to the progress of the 
grand army, an air of wonder, which recalled to our 
recollection the most celebrated expeditions of an- 
tiquity. 

Such was the aspect of our conquests, when ta- 
ken in the most brilliant point of view ; but, when 
sound reason had taught us to look into futurity, no- 
thing presented itself but the darkest and most fright- 
ful images. The horrible extremity to which the 
inhabitants of Moscow had been reduced, proved to 
us, that w^e had no means of treating with the people 
determined to make such immense sacrifices; and 
that the vain-glory of signing atreaty of peace at Mos- 
cow, had kindled a fire, the ravages of which would 
spread through Europe, and would give to the war a 
character so sanguinary, that it could end only in the 
entire ruin of^a generous people, or the fall of that 
evil genius, whom God, in his displeasure, seemed 
to have designed as a new extirminating angel to 
chastise mankind. 

The wisest and most judicious witnessed, with 
tenor, the destruction of a city, which, within five 
days, had become a prey to the ilames, and thclight 
of which illuminated our camp every night. * There 
* is no hope,' said they, ' of a speedy term'ination of 
'' the war, even should we still continue our con- 
'quests. Haying completed the ruin of Moscow, 



MALO-JARO&LAVITZ. 1JJ9 

' who knows whether we shall not attempt that of 
' Petersburg ? And even when we have subdued 
* all Russia, may we not anticipate an expedition to 
' the Euphrates or the Ganges ? Alas ! when a sove- 
' reign possesses only a rash valour, which is not tern- 
' pered by wisdom, the brilliant lustre of his arms 
' renders him like those dangerous meteors wiiich 
^ occasionally appear on the earth, and excite the 
^ most serious alarm.' 

Although the ruin of Moscow was a great loss to 
the Russians, it was still more sensibly felt by us, 
and it ensured to our enemies all the advantages 
which they had promised themselves from the rigour 
of their climate. In vain did we represent to the in- 
habitants that the burning of their capital was useless, 
and that the French army ought to rejoice at being 
relieved from an immense population, whose natural 
ardour and fanaticism might have caused dangerous 
seditions. After much reflection, I am convinced 
thatthe Russian government had reasons to fear, from 
the crafty and treacherous character of our chief, that 
this population, instead of revolting against us, might 
have become instrumental to our projects, and that 
many of the noblesse, led away by an example so 
dangerous, or seduced by brilliant, but deceitful 
proniises, might have abandoned the interest of their 
country. 

It was, doubtless, to prevent this calamity, that 
count Rastopchin sacrificed the whole of his fortune 
in burning Moscow, thinking that this great example 



190 1MALO-JAROSLAV1T2. 

would be the only means of rousing the energies of 
the nobility, and, by rendering us the objects of their 
execration, would excite in the minds of the people 
the most violent hatred against us. Besides, the city 
being provisioned for eight months, the French 
army by occupying it, would have been able to wait 
the return of spring, and then renew the campaign, 
with the armies of reserve which were encamped at 
Smolensko, and on the iNiemen; while by burning 
Moscow, they would compel us to a precipitate re- 
treat, in the most rigorous seasons of the year. 

Their hopes founded on this calculation, could 
not be disappointed ; for our formidable army, though 
it arrived in the fine seasons, had lost a third of its 
"numbers, merely by the rapididty of our march ; and 
the enemy had no reason to fear that we could main- 
tain any position, since our want of discipline had 
made a desert of all our conquests, and our impro- 
vident chief had formed no plan to facilitate our re- 
treat. 

In short, to finish this picture of our distresses, in 
the midst of our apparent victory,the whole army was 
discouraged and worn out with fatigue. The cavalry 
was nearly ruined, and the artillery -horses, exhaus- 
ted by want of food, could no longer draw the guns. 

Although we were the deplorable victims of the 
conflagration of Moscow, we must do justice to the 
inhabitants of that city. It is impossible not to ad- 
mire their generous devotedness to their country^ 
and we must acknowledge that they have, like the 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 1^1 

Spaniards, raised themselves, by their courage and 
their perseverance, to that high degree of true glo- 
ry which constitutes the greatness of a nation. 

When we recollect the sufferings that we had 
endured, and the losses* we had experienced by 
fatigue alone, previous to our arrival at Moscow, 
and that at a time when the earth, covered with its 
choicest productions, offered us abundant resources, 
one can scarcely conceive how Napoleon could be 
so blind and obstinate as not immediately to abandon 
Russia ; particularly when he saw that winter ap- 
proached, and that the capital, on which he had so 
much depended, no longer existed. It seems as if 
divine Providence, to punish him for his pride, had 
deprived him of reason, since he presumed to think 
that they who had sufficient courage to lay waste 
and destroy their country, would afterwards be weak 
enough to accept his hard proposals, and sign a 
treaty of peace on the smoking ruins of their city. 
They who possessed the smallest foresight, predicted 
our misfortunes, and imagined that they read on the 
walls of the Kremlin, those prophetic words which 
an invisible hand traced before Belshazzar, in the 
midst of his greatest prosperity : — 

* The fourth corps, when we set out from Glogau, consisted of 
about forty-eight thousand men, but when we left Moscow, there 
were only twenty thousand infantry, and two thousand cavalry. The 
fifteenth division, consisting of thirteen thousand men at the commence- 
Tnentof the campaign, was tbeu reduced to four thousand. 



192 malO'JARoslavit:^. 

* God hath numbered this kingdom and finished 
' it ; thou art weighed in the balance and found want- 

* ing J thy kingdom is divided, and given to other 

* hands** 

During the four days (17, 18, 19, and 20, Sep- 
tember) that we remained near Peterskoe,* Moscow 
did not cease to burn. In the meantime the rain 
fell in torrents; and the houses Hear the chateaUyhe- 
ing too few in number to contain the nu-nerous 
troops who were encamped there, it was almost im- 
possible to obtain shelter ; men, horses, and carria- 
ges, bivouacked in the middle of the fields. The 
staff-officers, placed around the chateau where their 
general's resided, were established in the English 
o-avdens, and quartered under grottos, Chinese pai- 
vilions, or green-houses, whilst the horses, tied under 
acacias, or linden-trees, were separated from each 
other by hedges or beds of flowers. This camp, 
truely picturesque, w^as rendered still more extraor- 
dinary by the new^ costume adopted by the soldiers; 
most of whom to shelter themselves from the incle- 
mency of the weather, had put on the same clothing 
which used to be seen at Moscow, and which formed 
llie most pleasing and amusing variety on the pub- 
lic walks of that city. Thus we saw, walking in our 
camp, soldiers dressed a la Tartare, a la cosaque, a 
fa Chinoise ; one wore the Polish cap, another the 
hio'h bonnet of the Persians, the Baskirs, or the Kal- 

* This imperial chateau, of which we have already spoken is but a 

ttuarter of a leasue from Mosgou% 



MALO-JAROSLAVITiZ* U93 

iiiiouks. In short, our army presented the image of 
a carnival ; and from what followed, it was justly 
said that our retreat commenced with a masquerade, 
and ended with a funeral. 

Bui the abundance which the soldiers then en- 
joyed, made them forget their fatigues ; with the rain 
pouring on their heads, and their feet immersed in 
the mud, they consoled themselves with good cheer, 
and the advantages which they derived from traffic- 
ing in the phmder of Moscow. Although it was 
forbidden to go into the city, the soldiers, allured by 
the hope of gain, violated the order, and always re- 
turned loaded wiih provisions and merchandise. Un- 
der the pretence of going on marauding parties, they 
returned near the Kremlin, and dug amongst the 
ruins, where they discovered entire magazines^ 
whence they drew a profusion of articles of every 
description. Thus our camp no longer resembled 
an army, but a great fair, at which each soldier, me- 
tamorphosed into a merchant, sold the most valuable 
articles, at an inconsiderable price; and although 
encamped in the fields, and exposed to the incle- 
mency of the weather, he, by a singular contrast, ate 
oflf China plates, drank out of silver vases, and pos- 
sessed almost every elegant and expensive article 
which luxury could invent. 

The neighbourhood of Peterskoe, and its gar- 
dens, at length became as unhealthy as it was incon- 
venient, Napoleon returned to establish himself at 
25 



194 MALO-JAROSLAVlTiS. 

the Kremlin which had not been burnt, and the 
guards and staff-offirers received orders to re-enter 
the city (the 20th and 21st of September^) Accord- 
ing to the calculations of the engineers, the tenth 
part of the houses still remained. They were divi- 
ded between the diOTerent corps of the grand army. 
We possessed the faubourg of St. Petersburg, which 
we bad at our lirst entry into the city. On re-enter- 
ini^ the city, we expeiicnced the most heart-rending 
sensations, at perceiving that no vestig;e remained of 
those noble h()te!f= at which we had formerly been 
establi^^hed. They w'ere entirely demolished, and 
their ruins still smoking, were scattered in such con- 
fusion, that we could no longer distinguish even the 
outline of the streets. The stone palaces were the 
only buildino-s which preserved any traces of their 
former magnificence. Standing alone amidst piles 
of ruins, and blackened by smoke, this wreck of a 
city, so newly built, resembled some of the venera- 
ble remains of antiquity. 

Each one endeavoured to find quarters for him- 
self, but rarely could we mieet with houses which 
joined together ; and, to shelter some companies, we 
were obliged ^to occupy a vast tract of land, which 
only offered a few habitationsscattered here andthere. 
Some of the churches composed of less combustible 
materials than the other buildings, had their roofs 
entire, and were transformed into barracks and sta- 
bles. Thus the hymns and holy melodies, which 
kad once resounded within these sacred walls, now 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 195 

gave place to the neighing of horses, and the horri- 
ble blasphemies of tiie soldiers. 

Curious to know in what state I should find the 
house at which I had lodged, 1 long sought for it in 
vain, until a neighbouring church, which had sur- 
vived the general destruction, enabled me to ascer- 
tain it. I could scarcely believe that it was the same. 
Tlie interior was entirely consumed, and the four 
walls alone remained, which were full of chinks, 
owing to the fierceness of the fire. 1 was reflecting 
on the terrible effects of this destructive element, 
"when the unfortunate servants of thehouse made their 
appearance from the bottom oi a vault. Emaciated 
by famine and distress, I shou VJ doubtless have found 
their features much altered, if the ashes and smoke 
had not rendered them totally unknown to me. They 
resembled spectres more than hutnan beings. But 
what were my sensations when 1 recognized my 
former host amongst these miserable wretches. He 
was concealed under the rags which he had borrowed 
from his domestics. They now lived all together, 
for misfortune had equalized every conditcm ! On 
seeing me, he burst into tears, particularly when he 
presented to me his children, half naked and dying 
with hunger. Although his grief was silent, it made 
a deep impression on my heart. He told me by 
signs that the soldiers, after having plundered his 
dwelling while it was burning, had also robbed him 
of the very clothes which he wore. This. distressing 
picture touched me to the soul. I wished to aiievi- 



19(» MALO-JAROSLAVITZ, 

ate his sufTerings, though I feared I had only barrel 
consolation to offer. The same man who a few days 
before had given me a splendid repast, accepted with 
gratitude a morsel of bread. 

Although the population of Moscow had entirely 
disappeared, there still remained many of those un- 
fortunate beings whom misery had accustomed to 
look on all occurrences with indifference. Most of 
them took shelter in cabins which they had them- 
selves constructed in the gardens or public walks, 
with planks half burnt, which they had collected 
from the ruins. There were also a ilumber of un- 
fortunate girls, and these alone derived any advan- 
tage from the plunder of Moscow. The soldiers 
eagerly associated with them, and when they were 
once introduced into our quarters, they soon became 
absolute mistresses of them, and squandered away 
all that the flames had spared. A small number, how- 
ever, really merited our regard by their education, 
and above all, by their misfortunes; for horrible to 
relate, famine and misery had compelled their mo- 
thers to come and offer them to us. This immora- 
lity, under such circutnstances, recoiled on those \tho 
bad not sufficient virtue to resist the temptation, and 
who regarded with an eye of passion the forms which 
hunger had emaciated, and disease had rendered dan- 
gerous and loathsome. 

Of all these victims, the most to be lamented, and 
the most worthy of pity, was the unfortunate Paulow-^ 
na, whose history I have already related, and who, 
deceived by an apparent generosity, had been weal^ 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 19T 

cnoufijh to place unlimited confidence in the general 
who had received her. This man well knew how to 
deceive his innocent captive, by his assiduities and 
false pity ; and, by feigning sentiments which he 
never knew, and taking advantage of the iinpossibi- 
lity of discovering her parents or her lover, he per- 
'suadedher that she would find in him a friend and a 
protector. On the faith of repeated promises, this 
innocent female, after having spent several days in 
unavailing tears, become a victim to the artifices of 
her ungenerous lover. Alas ! the general was alrea- 
dy married, and she, who had expected to become 
his wife, found herself only a dishonoured slave. 

There yet remained at Moscow a class of men, 
the most contemptible of all, since they escaped the 
punishment due to their former crimes by consenting 
to commit still greater : these were the galley-slaves. 
During the whole time of the conflagration at Mos- 
cow they signalized themselves by the audacity with 
which they executed the orders they had received, 
provided withphosphorus,they lighted the fire anew, 
wherever it appeared to be extinguished, and even 
crept by stealth into the houses which were inhabi- 
ted, to involve them in the general ruin. 

Several of these abject wretches were arrested 
with torches in their hands ; but their punishme t, 
too prompt and summary, produced little effect (24th 
September.) The people, who always detested their 
conquerors, regarded these executions merely as the 
eliiect of policy. In short these victiius were too ob- 
scure for the expiation of such a crime ; and, above 



198 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

all, their trial wanting publicity and legal form, 
threw no light on the cause of this dreadful calami- 
ty, and, could not justify us clearly in the estimation 
of the inhabitants. 

When we entered Moscow, the Russian troops 
fell back on the grand road of Wla(iimir ; but the 
greater part of their army having descended the 
Moskwa to go to Kolomna, took up their position 
along the river. It is said that tliis very army, fol- 
lowed by the whole population, in tears, passed, a 
few days after our arrival, under the walls of Mos- 
cow, while the city was still burning. The inarch 
of the troops was iliuminated by the light of the fire ; 
and the wind, blowing with violence, even carried 
into the ranks some of the ashes of their capital. 
IVotwithstanding such accumulated misfortunes, the 
troops observed the greatest order, and maintained a 
profound silence. Sut h resignation, at the sight of 
a spectacle so melancholy, gave to this march a so- 
lemn and religious air. 

When the main body of the Russian army had 
taken its different positions, the propriit^^rs of the 
country in the neighbouibood of Moscow, perceiv- 
ing that the disasters oftlie war had highly exaspe- 
rated the people against us, availed themselves of the 
popular feeling to excite a general insurrection 
against the common enemy. Many raised levies at 
their own expense, and put themselves at the head of 
their insurgent peasants. These forces, united to the 
Cossacks, intercepted our convoys on the great roads. 
But the principal aim of these uniitary preparations 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 199 

was to harass our forasjers, and above all, to deprive 
them of the resources v\hirh they were still able to 
procure from the neighbouiincr villasjes. 

In di5j;2;inii^ under the ruins of Moscow, the sol' 
diers often found inasjazines of su^ar, of wine, or of 
brandy. These discoveries, althouojh they would 
have been valuable in happiertimes, afforded no great 
relief to an army which had consumed all the grain 
of tlie country, and which would soon have neither 
bread nor meat to eat. 

Our cattle perished for want of forage, and, to 
procure others, it was each day necessary to engage 
in combats, always disadvantageous to us ; for, at so 
great a distance from our native country, the smal- 
lest loss was sensibly felt. 

Our real misery was disguised by an apparent 
abundance. We had neither bread not meat, yet our 
tables were covered with sweet meats, syrups, and 
dainties. Coffee, and all sorts of wines, served in 
china or crystal vases, convinced us that luxury 
might be nearly allied to poverty. The extent and 
the nature of our wants rendered money of little 
value to us, and this gave rise to an exchange rather 
than a sale of commodities. They who had cloth, 
offered it for wine ; and he who had a pelisse could 
procure plenty of sugar and coffee. 

Napoleon buoyed himself up with the ridiculous 
hope of reclaiming, by mild proclamations, those 
who, to free themselves from his yoke, had made 
their capital an immense funeral pile. In order to 
seduce them, and inspire them with confidence, he 



^00 MALO-JAROSLAVITE. 

had divided the remains of the town into districfi^j 
appointed governors for each, and instituted magis-- 
trates, to render to the few citizens who still remain- 
ed, the justice which was their due. The consul- 
general Lesseps, appointed governor of Moscow, 
published a proclamation, to announce to tlie inhab- 
itants the paternal intentions of Napoleon. These 
kind <ind generous promises, however, never reached 
the Moscovites ; and even if they had, the rigorous 
circumstances under which they were placed, would 
have made them regard the proclamation as insulting 
irony. Besides, the greater part had tied behind the 
Volga, and the others, who had taken refuge in the 
midst of the Russian army, animated by a deadly ha-^ 
tred, breathed only, sentiments of vengeance ! 

In the meantime prince Kutusoff, having con- 
veyed the greater part of his forces to Lectaskova^ 
between Moscow and Kaluga, to cover the southern 
provinces, so narrowly confined Napoleon, that in 
spite of his different manoeuvres, he could not disen- 
gage himself from his painful position, but was al- 
ways constrained to fall back on his own lines. It 
was impossible to advance towards Petersburgh with- 
out leaving the Russian army on our rear, and en 
dangering our safety, by abandoning all communica- 
tion with Poland. 

He could not march towards Jaroslaw and Wla- 
dimir ; since every imdertaking in that direction 
would only divide his troops and remove him further 
from his resources. Corsequently nothing could be 
more critical than the situation of the French army. 



MALO-iAROSLAVlTZ^ 2(X^ 

tiow encamped on the roads of Twer, of Wladimirj 
of Kazan, and of Kaluga. 

Our head-quarters continued at Moscow, the 
neiofhbourhood of vdiich was become highly infec- 
tious. It was indeed totally deserted, except by the 
peasants and the cossacks, who, overrunning the 
country, plundered our convoys, intercepted our cou- 
riers, massacred our foragers, and caused us irrepa- 
rable evils. From that time our position became 
more and more painful. Our poverty and the dis- 
content of the soldiers, augmented every day ; and, 
to complete our misfortunes, there appeared no pro- 
bability of a peace. 

It would be curious to relate the extravagant pro.- 
jects which, under these circumstances, were dis- 
cussed in the army. Some spoke of going to the 
Ukraine — others of marching on Petersburg. But 
those who were wise, maintained that we ought, ere 
long, to return to Wilna. JVapoleon, always most 
obstinate when surrounded with difficulties, and pas- 
sionately fond of extraordinary exploits, persisted in 
maintaining himself in an absolute desert, and 
thought to frighten the enemy, by feigning to pass 
the winter there. To give some colour to this ridi- 
culous stratagem, he formed the plan of arming the 
Kremlin, and even of making a citadel of the large 
prison which was situated in the quarter of Peters- 
burg, and vulgarly called the Square House ; and, to 
complete the folly and absurdity of the whole, when 
every magazine was exhausted, and we had nothing 
26 



202 MALO-JAKOSLAVITZ. 

to eat, hc^ ordered us to make provisions for two 
months. While we were occupied iii meditating on 
all these chimeras, and particularly on provisioning 
Moscow, without any resource, the report of peace, 
believed by those alone who so ardently desired it, 
filled our hearts with joy, and flattered us with the 
hope that we should not be compelled to attempt the 
execution of projects absolute!} impracticable. This 
news acquired much credit from the armistice which 
had been concluded between the cossacks and the 
advanced posts of the king of Naples. Such a con- 
vention seemed to augur that there might be some 
hope of a reconciliation between the two emperors : 
especially as we knew that general Lauriston had 
been sent to the head-quarters of prince Kutusoff^ 
and that, in consequence of his interview with this 
commander, a courier had been despatched to St. 
Pete rsburgh, to decide on peace or war. 

in the mean time Napoleon, with his usual acti- 
rity, daily reviewed his troops, and, by the severest 
proclamations, obliged the colonels to maintain the 
strictest discipline throughout their regiments. The 
weather, to our astonishment, continued remarkably 
fine, and contributed much to the brilliancy of these 
reviews. A circumstance so rare, in this advanced 
season, was regarded as a phenomenon by the Mos- 
covites, who, accustomed to see it snow from the 
month of October, beheld with surprise the beautiful 
days which we enjoyed. The people, naturally su- 
perstitious, and who had long and anxiously expected 
the winter, as their certain avenger, impatiently 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 203 

despaired of the assistance of Providence, and bejjan 
to consider this prodigy as the effect of the manifest 
protection which the Ahuightj had afforded to J\a- 
poleon. But this apparent protection was precisely 
the cause of his ruin, as it rendered him so infatuated 
as to believe that the climate of Moscow resembled 
that of Paris. His foolish and iinpious vanity made 
him hope to command the seasons as he had comman- 
ded men] and, abusing his good fortune, he believ- 
ed that the sun of Austerlitz would enlighten him 
even unto the pole, and that, like another Joshua, 
he would be able, by his voice, to arrest this lumin- 
ary in its course, and compel it to protect him in 
his ambitious career. 

While we were deluded by the rirotract(Ki nego- 
elation, preparations were made to recommence the 
war, but nothing was done to guard against the ri- 
gours of winter. Meanwhile our prospects became 
more alarming. The longer our stay at Moscow was 
continued, the more inconvenient and uncomfortable 
it became. In proportion as we exhaused the neigh- 
bouring villages, we were compelled to go to places 
more remote. Their distance rendered our excur- 
sions as perilous as they were fatiguinj>:. Setting out 
at break of day, rarelv did our foragers return before 
night. These excursions, daily repeated, harassed 
our men, and destroyed our cavalry, particularly the 
artillery-horses ; and, to complete our wretchedness, 
the audacity of the cossacks redoubled in proportion 
as our weakness rendered us defenceless. 



g04 MAL»-JAROSLAVITZ. 

As a proof of it, they intercepted, in the very en^ 
virons of Moscow, a convoy of artillery, coming 
from Yiazma, and conducted by two majors. Napo- 
leon beleived that these officers were culpable, and 
instituted an enquiry respectino" their conduct. One 
of Ihem destroyed himself, more from the disg'race 
of having; lost his cannon, than the fear of being 
found guilty. To prevent similar losses, Broussier's 
division and the light cavalry, commanded by count 
Oinano, received orders to establish themselves in 
the environs of the chateau of Galitzin, situated be- 
tween Mojaisk and Moscow. These troops deliver- 
ed the neighbouring country from the cossacks, who 
always avoided meeting them. But the smallest spot 
unoccupied by our troops, was immediately taken 
possession of by these hordes of Tartars, who profit^ 
ed by the advantages which their knowledge of the 
country afforded them, to attempt the boldest enter- 
prises. 

They made another attack on a convoy of artil- 
lery, coming from Italy, under the orders of major 
V^ives. It was reported that the escort, having taken 
to iiiijht, surrendered to the cossacks, almost without 
opposition, the artilleiy which had been intrusted to 
it. The enemy carried off the field pieces and the 
horses, when count Ornano, informed of this attack, 
pur.^ued the cossacks, and overtook them in the mid- 
die of the woods. At the sight of our cavalry they 
fled, and abandoned all the fruits of their victoryj 
without resistance. Major Vives would have beeQ 



MAtO-JAROSLAVITZ. 20^ 

brought to trial ; but our departure, and the disas- 
ters which ensued, forced JN'apoleon to relax from 
his accustomed severity. 

While the fourteenth division guarded the road 
from Viazma, the thirteenth was on that of Twer. 
This last division occupied some excellent canton- 
ments, when we were informed that count Saltikof, 
the favourite of the emperor Alexander, and proprie- 
tor of the village of Marfino, in the neighbourhood 
of Dimitrow, had armed all his peasants, and that, 
having entered into combinalion with several other 
lords, he was forming in his chateau a grand scheme 
of insurrection. To prevent the consequences of so 
dangerous an example, orders were given to a bri- 
gade of the thirteenth division to repair to the cha- 
teau de Marfino. The general who commanded it 
made strict enquiries to convince himself that these 
meetings had really taken place. The result was un- 
satisfactory and fruitless ; nevertheless, obliged to 
conform tothe orders which he had received, he com- 
mitted to the flames a palace which had been justly 
celebrated as one of the finest in iiussia. -This pre- 
tended meetingcaused a suspicion that Napoleon had 
only wished to revenge himself on count Saltikof, to 
whom he was an enemy, because that nobleman had 
continued faithful to his sovereign. 

The various manoeuvres which the different corps 
of the army weie obliged to make, confirmed us in 
the opinion that we should not long be able to main- 
tain our position. Every thing presaged our ap- 
proaching departure, and suspicion was changed into 



206 MALO-JAROSLATITZ. 

certainty on perceiving that the cavalry of the Italian 
guards quitted their good cantonments in the envi- 
rons of Dimitrow, to return to Moscow ; and pro- 
ceeded thence to occupy the position of Charopovo, 
(15th October,) a little village, situated on the road 
from Borovsk, about six leagues from Moscow. At 
the same time the viceroy ordered the thirteenth di- 
vision to return, the fourteenth to advance, and the 
cavalry of general Ornano to march towards Fomin- 
skoe, whither it appeared that the whole of the fourth 
corps was about to direct its course. The cossacks, 
informed of this movement, availed themselves of 
the opportunity, when the baggage of our light ca- 
valry was feebly escorted, to attack the convoy in 
the neighbourhood of Osigbovo ; but seeing gene- 
ral Broussier's division, they abandoned a part of 
their booty, and sheltered by the woods, escaped 
the pursuit of our soldiers. 

We waited with the utmost anxiety the return of 
the courier which had been despatched to Peters- 
berg. Persuaded that the answer would be favour- 
able, our army neglected the necessary precautions, 
and imagined itself in the most perfect security. The 
enemy, profiting by this indescretion, attacked on 
the 18th of October, the cavalry of the King of Na- 
ples, in the vicinity of Taroutina, and surprised a park 
of twenty-six pieces of cannon, which they caried off. 
This attack, made at the moment when the cavalry 
was foraging, was fatal to that division of the army, 
which had been already much reduced. The few who 
remained, still continued to face the enemy; and, sup- 



aiALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 207 

ported by some Polish reo;imenl?, who were less fa- 
tiii!;ued than ours, succeeded in recovering the pieces 
which the enemy had captured. General Bagavvout, 
who commanded the fourth Russian corps, was kil- 
led in the action ; and general Bennigsen was wound- 
ed. We lost nearly two thousand men ; and we par- 
ticularly regretted the death of general Dery, aid-de- 
camp of the king of Naples, who had on every oc- 
casion given proof of the greatest courage, and the 
highest talents. 

The emperor was at the Kremlin, occupied in 
reviewing his troops, when he received this unex- 
pected news. He immediately became furious, and 
in the transports of his rage, exclaimed, that it was 
treacherous and infamous ; that they had attacked the 
king of Naples in contempt of all the laws of war, 
and that none but barbarians would have thus vio- 
lated a solemn convention. The parade was imme- 
diately dissolved, all hopes of peace vanished, and 
the order for our departure was given that very eve- 
ning. All the corps were to quit Moscow, and take 
the grand road to Kaluga. We then hoped that we 
should go to the Ukraine, to seek, under a milder 
sky, countries less savage and more fertile. But 
those who were best informed, assured us that our 
movement on Kaluga was only a false manceuvie, to 
conceal from the enemy our design of retreating on 
Smolensko and Witepsk. 

Those who did not witness the departure of the 
French army fiom Moscow, can form but a faint 
idea of what the. Greek and Roman armies were. 



208 MALO-jAROSLAViTZ. 

when they abandoned the ruins of Troy or of Car- 
thage. But they who observed the appearance of our 
army at this moment, acknovvJedi^ed the accuracy of 
those interesting scenes which are so admirably de* 
scribed in the writings of Virgil and Livy. The 
long files of carriages, in three or four ranks, extend- 
ed for several leagues, loaded with the immense boo- 
ty which the soldiers had snatched from the flames ; 
and the Moscovite peasants, who were now become 
our servants resembled the slaves which the ancients 
drag2:ed in their train. Others carrying with them 
their wives and children, or the prostitutes whom 
they had found at Moscow, represented the warriors 
amongst whom the captives had been divided. Af- 
terwards came numerous waggons filled with tro- 
phies, among which were Turkish or Persian stand- 
ards, torn from the vaulted roofs of the palaces of the 
czars, and, last of all, the celebrated cross of Saint 
Iwan gloriously closed the rear of an army which, 
but for the imprudence of its chief, would have been 
enabled to boast that it had extended its conquests to 
the very limits of Europe, and astonished the people 
of Asia with the sound of the same cannon with 
which the pillars of Hercules had re-echoed. 

As we set out very late, we were obliged to en- 
camp at a miserable village, only one league from 
Moscow. The cavalry of the Italian guards, which 
still remained at Charopovo, marched on the follow- 
ing day (19th October) and joined us at Fatoutinka, 
not far from the chateau of Troitskoe, where Napo- 
leon had established his head-quarters. Nearly the 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 209 

whole army was re-united ert this point, with the ex- 
ception of the cavalry which was in advance, and the 
young guards who remained at Moscow to bring up 
the rear. We experienced much difficulty in procu- 
ring the means of subsistence, but we still continued 
to bivouat ; and the carriages which every officer 
brought with him furnished us with some provisions. 
On the following day, the cavalry of the royal 
guards were to have directed their course towards 
Charopovo, as well as the whole of the fourth corps; 
but at the moment when they were commencing their 
march, they were recalled, and the prince ordered 
these troops to pursue the same route which we had 
followed the preceding evening. We crossed the 
Pakra near Gorki. This beautiful village no longer 
existed but in name ; and the river, choaked up with 
the ruins of the houses which had been a prey to the 
flames, flowed in a black and muddy stream. Above 
was the beautiful chateau of Krasnoe, which had been 
entirely pillaged; but the elegance of thebuildingstili 
formed a striking contrast with the rustic hills on 
which it was built. Arrived on this point, we halted, 
and an hour afterwards left the high road to seek on 
our right a path which would conduct us to Fomins*- 
koe, where general Broussier and our cavalry had 
been for four or five days in view of the enemy. Our 
march by this unfrequented road was very tedious 
and painful, but it procured us the advantage of find- 
ing some villages, which, although they were desert- 
ed, had not been so completely plundered as those on 
27 



210 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

the ^reaf road. We passed the night at Inatowo, 
wliere we discovered a chateau, situated on an emi- 
nence Which overlooked the country by which we 
had arrived. 

We afterwards continued our march, with an in- 
tention to rej^ain the road to Charopovo, which we 
at length reached, near the village of Bouikasovo. 
These geographical details, on which I dwell so much 
will not appear tedious, when it is recollected that 
they are absolutely necessary, in order to point out 
the difficulties which we liad to encounter in our ope- 
rations. Having only incorrect maps, and marching 
without guides, we could not even pronounce the 
names of the villages described on our charts ; but 
having at length discovered a peasant, we seized 
him and kept him fir two days, but he was so stu- 
pid that he only knew the name of his own village. 
This march was, however, very important for the 
emperor, who followed us with the main body of the 
army ; the prince, therefore, made me every day draw 
out a plan of the road, to send to the major-general. 

Having surmounted every obstacle, we regained 
the old road of Kaluga. In one hour afterwards we 
arrived at Fominskoe. Broussier's division was en- 
camped in the environs of this village, and the caval- 
ry placed in advance, were led on by the viceroy, 
who, without delay, proceeded to reconnoitre the 
height which the cossacks occupied; but at his ap^ 
pearance they immediately retired, leaving his high- 
ness at liberty to encamp peaceably on the ground 
for which we had expected to fight. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 211 

According to the military report, the position of 
Fominskoe would have been advantageous for the 
Russians, if they had resolved to defend it. Through 
the middle of the village, overlooked by a hill, ran the 
river Nara, which, towards this point, owing to the 
contraction of the valley, formed a little lake sur- 
rounded by marshes. The whole army had to pass 
this defile, and to cross a single bridge. This, how- 
ever, was reserved for the carriages, and another con- 
structed for the infantry. 

In order to execute this operation, and to permit 
a part of the army to pass over before us, they al- 
lowed us a day of repose (22d October.) During this 
time, the Poles, commanded by prince Poniatowski^ 
marched on Vereia, where the Hetman PlatofF was 
with his cossacks. Napoleon soon followed us with 
bis accustomed suite, and in an instant the village 
was tilled with carriages, horses, and men. But ow- 
ing to the skilful precautions which had been adopt- 
ed, all this passed without confusion ; a circumstance 
which excited not a little astonishment, for the co- 
horts of Xerxes^ had not more baggage than we. 

The same day captain Evrard, who had been de- 
spatched to Charopovo, announced to us that he had 
heard a tremendous report in the direction of Mos- 
cow. We afterwards learned that it had been pro- 
duced by the blowing up of the Kremlin. The de- 

* An expression which Napoleon made use of in the bulletins of 
the campaign of ISOSj when speaking of the Austrian armies. 



212 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

struction of this noble citadel, and of the magnificent 
buildings which it contained, was accomplished by 
the young imperial guards, who, on quitting Mos- 
cow, were ordered to destroy every thing that the 
flames had spared. Thus perished this celebrated 
city, founded by the Tartars, and destroyed by the 
French ! Enriched with every gift of fortune, and 
situated in the centre of the continent, she experien- 
ced from the passions of an obscure and remote isl- 
ander the most lamentable of human vicissitudes. 
The historian will not fail to remark, that the same 
man who affected to sacrifice us to promote the pro^ 
gress of civilization, boasted in his own bulletins, 
that he had caused Russia to retrograde, at least a 
hundred years.^ 

A part of the army having crossed the Nara, the 
fourth corps followed them about five o'clock in the 
morning (23d October) and proceeded towards Bo- 
rovsk. The enemy appeared no more during this 
day's march. The cossacks had fled before us, doubts 
less to announce to the general-in-chief, that we had 
deceived his vigilance by leaving the new road to 
Kaluga through Taroutina, and taking the old one 
which passes by Borovsk. 

The enemy, informed of our march, immediate- 
ly abandoned his intrenched camp at Lectaskova, 
but left us in doubt whether he would take the road 
by Borovsk, or by Malo-Jaroslavitz. Napoleon oc- 
cupied the former city, situated on an eminence, 

* See the bulletins of the campaign in Russia. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 213 

around which ran the Protva in a deep and inacces- 
sible channel. 

The viceroy, who had encamped half a league 
beyond Borovsk, in a little village on the ricrht of the 
road, ordered Delzon's division to march on Malo- 
Jaroslayitz, and occupy that position before the Rus- 
sians could seize on it. This general having found 
it without defence, took possession of it, with only 
two battalions, leaving the rest of his troops in the 
rear on the plain. We consequently iiriagined that 
this position was secure, when on tlie following 
morning (24th October) at day-break, we heard a 
heavy cannonade in our front. The viceroy, sus- 
pecting the cause of it, immediately mounted his 
horse, and, accompanied by his staff, galloped to- 
wards Malo-Jaroslavitz. On approaching this city, the 
noise of the cannon redoubled : we heard the sharp- 
shooters on both sides, and at last we distinctly per- 
ceived the Russian columns, who were advancing by 
the new road of Kaluga, to force the position which 
we occupied. 

On arriving below the heights of Malo-Jarosla- 
vilz,* general Delzons came towards us, and, ap- 
proaching the viceroy, said to him, ' Yesterday eve- 
ning, on my arrival, 1 took possession of this place, 
and no one then appeared to dispute it with me, but, 
about four o'clock in the morning, I was attacked by 
a large body of infantry. Immediately the two bat- 
talions flew to arms, but, overpowered by a much su- 

* See the plan of the field of battle of Malo-Jaroslavifz. 



-214 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

perior force, they have been compelled to descend 
from the heights, and abandon Malo-Jaroslavitz.* 

The viceroy, feelinsj the importance of this loss, 
and wishinsj immediately to repair it, sjave orders to 
genetal Delzons to march, with his whole division. 
An obstinate engagement nowcommeticed, and fresh 
troops having arrived to the assistance of the Rus- 
sians, our soldiers, for a moment, gave way. Gene- 
ral Ueizons thinking they w^ere about to fly, rushed 
into the thickest of the battle, in order to reanimate 
them ; but, at the moment when he was defending 
with obstinacy the barriers of the city, the enemy's 
sharp-shooters, intrenched behind the wall of a ceme- 
tery, fired upon him, and a ball entering his forehead, 
be fell, and inniiediately expired. The viceroy, on 
being informed of this sad event, appeared to be 
much affected at the loss of a general so worthy his 
esteem : and after haviisg paid a just tribute to his me- 
mory, sent generai Guilleminot to replace him. He 
also ordered the fourteenth division to advance, and 
relieve those who had been so long engaged. Our 
soldiers now resumed the offensive, when several 
fresh coiumns of Russians coming from Lectaskova, 
forced Ihem to 1 el teal. We saw them descending 
the hill with precipitalion, and making towards the 
bridge, as if they wished to repass the river Louja, 
which ran at ttie foot of the eminence. But shoitly 
afterwards our brave men, rallied by colonel Foi es- 
tier, and seeing themselves supported by the chas- 
seurs and gienadiers of the royal guards, resumed 
their accustomed courage, and once more ascended 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 215 

the heisjhts. In the meantime, a great number of 
wounded who had abandoned the field of battle, and, 
above all, the difficulty with which we maintained 
ourselves in Malo-.Taroslavitz, convinced the viceroy 
of the necessity of sendini>' other troops against the 
continual reinforcements of the enemy. Pino's di- 
vision, which, durifigthe whole of the campaign, had 
sought for every opportunity of distinguishing itself, 
obeyed, with transport, the orders of the prince. They 
rapidly ascended the heights, with their bayonets fix- 
ed, and uttering shouts of joy, succeeded in estab- 
lishing themselves in all the positions whence the ene- 
my had driven us. This success, however, was dearly 
purchased. A great niuuber of brave Italians were 
the victims of their emulation of French valour ; nor 
was it without sincere regret thelt we heard of the 
death of general Levie, whom fate permitted to en- 
joy his new rank only eight days. We were equally 
afflicted, on beholding general Pino returning cover- 
ed with blood ; who, though he suffered much from 
the pain of his wound, felt still more sensibly the 
death of a brother who had fallen by his side. Du- 
ringthis time the enemy's cannon raged with fury, and 
his balls, carried destruction into the ranks of the roy- 
al light troops, placed in reserve, and even amongst 
the staff of his highness. It was at this moment 
that general Gifflenga, a man of great merit, and ex- 
traordinary courage, received a ball in his throat, 
which obliged him to quit the field of battle. 

The success of the day was decided, and we oc- 
cupied the town, and all the heights, when the fifth 



216 MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

division of the first corps joined us, and took up their 
position on our left. The third division of the same 
corps arrived also after the battle, and occupied a 
wood on our rii^ht.* Until nine o'clock in the eve- 
ning, our batteries and foot soldiers did not cease 
their firing, at a very short distance from the enemy; 
but, at length, night and excessive weariness put an 
end to this sanguinary combat. It was, however, 
nearly ten o'clock before the viceroy and the staff 
were able to take the repose which was necessary, 
after so many fatigues. We encamped beneath Ma- 
lo-.laroslavitz, between the town and the river Louja; 
but the troops bivouacked through the whole extent 
of the positions which they liad so gloriously carried. 
The next day we were convinced that the obstina- 
cy with which the Russians had disputed our posses- 
sion of Malo-Jaroslavitz, was in consequence of their 
intention of effecting a movement on our right, in or- 
derto arrive at Viazma before us, well persuaded that 
our march on Kaluga was only a manc^uvre, with the 
design of concealing our retreat. About four o'clock 
in the morning, the viceroy mounted his horse. We 
ascended the eminence on which the battle had been 
fought, when we saw the plain covered with cossacks, 
whose light artillery was firing on our troops : we al- 
so observed on our left three grand redoubts. On 
the preceding evening each of them had mounted 
fifteen or twenty pieces of cannon, with which they 
defended the right flank of Kutusoff, supposing that 

* See Ihe field of battle of Ma!o-Jaroslavitz. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 217 

We should have attempted to turn his position on that 
side. About ten o'clock the firing abated, and at 
twelve it entirely ceased. 

The interior of Malo-Jaroslavitz presented the 
most horrid spectacle. On entering the town, we 
beheld with grief the spot where general Delzons had 
perishedji and regretted that a premature death had 
terminated his glorious career. We did equal jus- 
tice to the memory of his brother, who received a mor- 
tal wound, while endeavouring io rescue him from 
the hands of the enemy. A little further on they 
showed us the place where general Fontane had been 
woimded ; and at the foot of the hill, we saw the 
grenadiers of the thii ty-tifth regiment of the line, 
who were bestowing funeral honours on their brave 
colonel. 

The town where we had fought no longer remain- 
ed. We could not even distinguish the lines of the 
streets, on account of the numerous dead bodies with 
which they were heaped. On every side we saw a 
multitude of scattered limbs, and human heads, crush* 
ed by the wheels of the artillery. The houses form- 
ed a pile of ruins, and under their burning ashes ap- 
peared many skeletons half consumed. Many of 
the sick and wounded had, on quitting the field of 
battle, taken refuge in these houses. The small num- 
ber of them who had escaped the flames, now pre- 
sented themselves before us, with their faces black- 
ened, and their clothes and hair dreadfully burnt. In 
the most piteous tone, they besought us to afford 

them some relief, or kindly to terminate their suffer- 
28 



21 S MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

ings by death. The most ferocious were affected 
at this sad spectacle, and, turning hastily away, could 
not refrain from shedding tears. This distressing 
scene made every one shudder at the evils to which 
despotism exposes humanity, and we altnost fancied 
that those barbarous times were returned, when we 
could only appease the gods, by offering human vic- 
tims on their sanguinary altars. 

Towards the afternoon, Napoleon, having arrived 
with a numerous suit, coolly surveyed the field of 
battle, and heard, without emotion, the heart-rending 
cries of the unhappy wounded, who eagerly demand- 
ed assistance. But this man although accustomed 
for twenty years to the calamities of war, could not^ 
on entering the town, repress his astonishment at 
the desperation with which both parties must have 
fought. Even had he intended to continue his march 
on Tula and Kaluga, the experience of this battle 
would have deterred him. On this occasion, even 
his insensibility was forced to render justice to those 
whom it was due. He gave a convincing proof of 
it by praising the valour of the fourth corps, and 
saying to the viceroy, ' The honour of this glorious 
day belongs entirely to you.' 

While we were disputing with the enemy the po^ 
sition of Malo-Jaroslavitz, more than six thousand 
cossacks unexpectedly rushed on the head-quarters 
of the emperor, established at Ghorodnia, and carried 
off six pieces of cannon, v.hich were posted not far 
from the village* The duke of Istria immediately 
galloped after them with all the cavalry of the guards. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 219 

and succeeded in retaking the artillery. The cosr 
sacks, cut to pieces and dispersed, effected their re- 
treat ; but in their flight, one of their numerous de- 
tachments attacked the baggage of the fourth corps, 
and would have captured it, if the cavalry of the 
Italian guards had not received them with the same 
intrepidity as the imperial guards. The coolness of 
Joubert, who commanded the escort, was much 
praised in this affair. Seated in his carriage, he had 
the resolution not to stir from it, but drew his sword 
on the Cossacks, who surrounded him, and defended 
himself till he could obtain assistance. 

From the commencement of the campaign, the 
son of the Hetman Platoff, mounted on a superb 
white horse, from the Ukraine, was the faithful corn- 
pan* >n in arms of his brave father, and always at the 
head of the cossacks. He was often remarked by 
our advanced guards, on account of his courage and 
intrepidity. This fine young man was the idol of his 
father, and the hope of the warlike nation which ex- 
pected hereafter to obey him. But Destiny had pro- 
nounced his doom, and the fatal hour was at hand. In 
a desperate charge of cavalry, which took place near 
Vereia, between prince Poniatowski and the Hetman 
Platoff, the Poles and Russians, animated by a mu- 
tual hatred, fought with fury. Excited by the ardour 
of the combat, they gave no quarter, and on both 
sides fell numerous brave men, who had returned in 
gafety from former battles. Platoff, who saw his best 
soldiers falling around him, forgot his own danger, 
and with an anxious eye, looked round for his fa- 



220 BIALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 

vouriie son. But the moment approached when this 
unfortunate father was destined to feel that life is 
sometimes almost insupportable. The unhappy 
youth had returned from the heat of the battle, and 
was preparing to renew the attack, when he received 
a mortal wound from a Hulan Pole. 

At this moment his father appeared, and flying to 
his assistance, threw himself upon him. On seeing 
his beloved parent the son heaved a deep sigh, and 
would have expressed, for the last time, his atfection 
and his duty ; but, as he attempted to speak, his 
strength failed him, and he breathed his last. In the 
meanljme, PlatofF, who could not restrain his tears, 
retired to his tent, to give vent to his feelings. In 
the first burst of agony he considered life a burden, 
and could no longer endure the light. The fo^^ow- 
ing morning, at day-break, the chiefs of the cossacks 
came to express their grief, and earnestly to request 
that they might be permitted to render funeral hon- 
ours to the son of their Hetman. Every one, on seeing 
this brave young man stretched on a bear-skin, knelt 
spontaneously, and respectfully kissed the hand of a 
youth, who, but for a premature death, would have 
equalled the greatest heroes, by his valour and by his 
virtues. After having, according to their ritual, of- 
fered fervent prayers for the repose of his soul, they 
removed him from the presence of his father, and 
carried him in solemn procession to a neighbouring 
eminence covered with cypress, where he was to be 
interred. 



MALO-JAROSLAVITZ. 223 

The Cossacks, standing around, all arranged in or- 
der of battle, observed a religious silence, and bow- 
ed their heads in profound respect, while grief was 
painted in every countenance. At the moment when 
the earth was for ever to separate them from the son 
of ther prince, they fired a volley over the grave. 
Afterwards holding their horses in their hands, they 
slowly and solemly marched round the tomb, with 
their lances pointed towards the earth. 



BOOK VIL 



DOROGHOBOUI. 



The victory of Malo-Jaroslavitz discovered twe 
melancholy truths : first, that the Russians, far from 
being weakened, had been reinforced by numerous 
battalions, and that they all fought with an obstinacy 
which made us despair of gaining new victories, 

* But two battles more like this,' said the soldiers, 

* and Napoleon will be without an army.' It like- 
wise discovered that we could no longer effect an 
easy retreat, since the enemy, having at the close of 
the engagement outflanked us, prevented our columns 
fiom retiring by the route of Medouin, Jouknov, and 
EInia, and reduced us to the unhappy necessity of 
retreating precipitately by the great road of Smo- 
lensko, or in othei" words, by the desert which we 
ourselves had made. Besides these apprehensions, 
too well founded, we also knew that the Russians 
had despatched before us the army of Moldavia, on 
the very route which we were to pursue, and that the 
corps of Wittgenstein was advancing to join that 
army. 

After this sanguinary combat, those who judged 
only from appearances and popular report, supposed 
that we should march on Kaluga and Tula ; but when 



224 uoEOGHOBOur. 

they saw that a strong- advanced guard of the enemy; 
instead of faking that direction, had outflanked our 
right by defiling on Medouin, all who were experi- 
enced in warlike manceuvres perceived that the Rus- 
sians had penetrated the designs of Napoleon, and 
that it was necessary for us to make a rapid march on 
Viazma, to arrive there before them. There was no 
longer any question of Kaluga or the Ukraine, but 
how to effect a safe retreat on the route of Borovsk* 
As soon as our retreat was decided, the fourth corps 
began its retrograde march, leaving all the first 
corps, and the cavalry of general Chastel, at Jarosla- 
vitz. These troops were to form the rear-guard, at 
the distance of a day's march from us. 

(October 26th.) We saw on our route to what 
the unfortunate and memorable victory of Malo-Ja- 
roslavitz had reduced us. At every step were wag- 
gons abandoned for want of horses to draw them, 
and the fragments of innumerable military carriages 
burned for the same reason. With such misfortunes 
at the very commencement of our retreat, we form- 
ed sad and mournful presages of the future. Those 
who carried with them the spoils of Moscow, trem- 
bled for their riches. W^e were principally disquiet-^ 
ed at seeing the deplorable state of the feeble re- 
mains of our cavalry, and we listened with melancho- 
ly foreboding to the frequent explosions of our am- 
munition- waggons, which sounded from afar like 
distant thunder. 

It was night when we arrived at Ouvarooskoe, 
Surprised at seeing the place in flames, we were in 



DOROGHOBOUIv 225*^ 

fbrmed that orders had been issued to destroy every 
thing; in our route. Near this village was a chateau, 
which, although in the centre of a wood, possessed a 
grandeur and magnificence equal to the noblest pala- 
ces of Italy. The richness of the furniture corre- 
sponded with the beauty of the architecture. We 
saw there many exquisite paintings, chandeliers of 
the greatest value, and numerous lustres of rock- 
crystal, which gave to these apartments, when light- 
ed up, an appearance truly enchanting. Even these 
were not spared ; and we learned on the morrow, that 
our artillery-men, finding the progress of the flames 
too slow, had hastened and completed the destruc- 
tion, by placing several barrels, filled with gunpow- 
der, on the ground floor. 

The villages, which a few days before had afford- 
ed us shelter, were now le.vel with the ground. Un- 
der their ashes, yet warm, and which the wind drove 
towards us, were the bodies of hundreds of soldiers 
and peasants. Many an infant was to be seen cruelly 
butchered, and many a female savagely massacred 
on the spot which had witnessed her violation. 

We left the village of Borovsk, which had been 
equally a prey to the flames, on our right, to reascend 
the Protva, and find a ford for our artillery. Having 
discovered one, half a league from the village, it 
would have been altempted by all our corps, but 
many of the waggons, sticking fast in the middle of 
the river, so much encumbered the only ?pot at which 
a passage there was practicable, that it was necessa- 
ry to search for another ford. On reconnoitring the 
29 



226 UOROGHOBOtJI. 

brids^e of Borovsk, i found that it still remained, and 
that it offered £;reat facility for carrying over the 
ha^s^a^e. Immediately the prince caused the third 
division to fall back, and thus, by means of the bridge, 
opened to our corps a better and a shorter route. The 
only danger which we had to fear, was the passage of 
the waa:gons laden with ammunition, through a town 
completely in flames. 

The fourth corps filed across this vast conflagration 
without a single accident, and after having passed 
through many frightful defiles, the night found us at 
the execrable village of Alfereva (Oct. 27th,) where 
the generals of division with difficulty found a barn 
to shelter them. That of the viceroy was so ruin- 
ous, that we pitied those who were destined to inhab- 
it it. In addition to all these evils, the want of pro- 
vision aggravated our sufferings. That which w^e had 
brought from Moscow^ was almost consumed, and 
every one, covetous of the little that remained to 
him, retired to eat in secret the morsel of bread 
which his industry had procured. Our horses fared 
yet worse. A little thatch torn from the roofs of the 
houses, was their only food. Many of them died of 
fatigue and hunger, obliging the artillery to abandon 
all that was not absolutely necessary ; and every day 
redoubled, in a frightful manner, the explosions of 
the waggons, which were blown up and destroyed. 
(October 28th.) 

On the following day we recrossed the Protva a 
little below Vereia. This town v^as burning at 
the moment of our passage ; and the devouring 



DOROGHOBOIII. 227 

flames risin;^ in whirlwinds on every side, soon re- 
duced i1 to ashes. Vereia was the more unfortu- 
nate, since, lyinsj at a distance from the great road, 
she had flattered herself that she might escape the 
calamities by which she was surrounded. In truths 
with the exception of the engagement between the 
Russians and the Poles, she had hitherto experienced 
little of the horrors of war. Her fields had not 
been ravaged, and her well-cultivated gardens were 
now covered with vegetables of every kind, which 
our famished soldiers devoured in an instant. At 
night we slept at a wretched village, of which we 
could not learn the name. We supposed that it was 
Miti'aeva, because we were only a league from (iho- 
rodok-Borisov. This place was yet more miserable 
than the hamlet at which we had halted the night 
before- The greater part of the officers passed the 
night in the open air, which was the more unpleas- 
ant, as the nights began to be extremely cold, and 
little wood could be procured. Even the huts 
which the generals had hastily erected, were demo, 
lished by the soldiers to supply a few scanty fires . 
and many who went to sleep in comfortable cabins 
on waking in the middle of the night, found that the 
sky was their only covering. 

Napoleon who preceded us one day's march, had 
already passed Mojaisk, burning and destroying 
every thing which he found on his route. His sol- 
diers were so intent on this devastation, that they set 
fire even to the places where we should have halted. 
This exposed us to great and unnecessary suffering i 



>228 DOROGHOBOUI. 

but our corps, in its turn, burned the few houses 
that the others had left, and deprived the army of 
the prince of Eckmuhl, which formed the rear-guard, 
of all power to shelter itself from the inclemency of 
the night. That corps had likewise to contend with 
an exasperated enemy, which, learning our retreat^ 
hastened on every side to avenge itself. The cannon 
which we heard every day, and at distances continu- 
ally diminishing, sufficiently announced to us the 
fatigues, the sufferings, and the dangers, of that divi- 
sion of the army. 

At length, having passed through Ghorodok-Bo- 
risov (October 29th,) in the midst of almost impe- 
netrable clouds of smoke, we entered, an hour after- 
wards, on a plain which appeared to have been long 
since devastated. We saw at a distance the dead 
bodies of men and horses: but the numerous intrench- 
ments, half destroyed, the aspect of the ruined town 
recalled to our memories the environs of Mojaisk, 
through V, hich we had passed as conquerors, fifty-one 
days before. The Poles encamped upon the ruins, 
and at their departure burnt the few houses which 
had escaped the first conflagration ; but the destruc- 
tion had been already so complete that we could 
scarcely see the light of the flames. The only thing 
which struck us was the newly erected tower, rising 
amid the ruins, and, by its whiteness, forming a mel- 
ancholy contrast with the black clouds which enve- 
loped it. It remained entire, and the clock yet tol- 
led the hours, though the city was no more. 



DOROGHOBOUI. 229 

Our corps did not pass through Mqjalsk, but, 
turning to the left, we arrived (October 29th,) at the 
site of the village of Krasnoe where we had slept at 
the day after the battle of the Moskwa : I say the site 
of the village, for the houses existed no longer, and 
the chateau alone had been preserved for the use of 
Napoleon. We encamped round the chateau, and, 
as long as I live, I shall recollect how pierced with 
the cold, we crowded together, and slept with com- 
fort on the yet warm ashes of the houses that had 
been burned the day before. 

(October 30th.) The nearer we approached to 
Mojaisk, the more desolate the country appeared. 
The fields, trampled down by thousands of horses, 
seemed as though they had never been cultivated. 
The forests, cleared by the long continuance of the 
troops, partook likewise of the general desolation. 
But most horrible was the multitude of dead bodies, 
which, deprived of burial fifty-two days scarcely 
retained the human form. On arriving at Borodino, 
my consternation was inexpressible, at finding the 
twenty thousand men, who had perished there, yet 
lying exposed. The whole plain was entirely cover- 
ed with them. None of the bodies were more than 
half buried. In one place were to be seen garments 
yet red with blood, and bones gnawed by dogs and 
birds of prey ; in another were broken arms, drums, 
helmets, and swords. Fragments of standards lay 
scattered thick around, and, from the emblems with 
which they were adorned, it was easy to judge how 



235 DOROGHOBOUI. 

much the Russian eagle had suffered on that bloody 
day. 

On one side we saw the remains of the cottage at 
which Kutusoff had encamped ; and more to the left 
the famous redoubt. It yet frowned threatenin2;ly 
over the plain. It elevaled itself like a pyramid in 
the midst of a desert. When I mused on what it 
had been, and what it then was, I thouajht that I saw 
Vesuvius in repose. Perceivins^ a soldier on the 
summit, at the remote distance his immoveable fig- 
ure had the effect of a statue. * Ah !' I exclaimed, 
* if ever a statue is '^onsecrated to the demon of war 
it should be placed on this pedestal.' 

As we traversed the field of battle, we heard, at 
a distance, a feeble voice appealing to us for succour. 
Touched by his plaintive cries, some soldiers, ap- 
proached the spot, and, to their astonishment, saw, 
stretched on the ground, a French soldier with both 
his legs fractured. * I was wounded,' said he, 'on 
the day of the great battle. I fainted from the 
agony which I endured, and, on recovering my 
senses, I found myself in a desolate place, where 
no one could hear my cries, or afford me relief. 
For two months, 1 daily dragged myself to the brink 
of a rivulet, where I fed on the grass and roots, and 
some morsels of bread, which I found among the 
dead bodies. At night I laid myself down underthe 
shelter of some dead horses. To day, seeing yon at 
a distance, I summoned all my strength, and happily 
crawled sufficiently near your route to make myself 
heard.' While the surrounding soiaiers were ex- 



DOROGHOBOUI, 231 

pressing; their surprise, the general, who was inform- 
ed of an orrurrence so sinsjular and so touchingj 
placed the unfortunate wretch in his own carriage. 

My history would far exceed the bounds pre* 
scribed, were I to recount all the calamities which 
that atrocious war produced. [ will relate one circum- 
stance alone, from which my readers may judge of 
the rest. Three thousand prisoners were brought 
from Moscow. Having nothing to give them during 
their march, they were at night driven into a narrow 
fold like so many beasts. Without fire, and without 
food, they lay on the bare ice, and to assuage the 
hunger which tortured them, those who had not the 
couras:e to die, nightly fed on the flesh of their com- 
panions, whom fatigue, misery, and famine had de* 
stroyed. 

But I turn from a picture so shocking, and pur^ 
sue the course of my narrative. I shall soon have 
horrors enough to describe, which fell to the lot of 
my friends and my companions in arms. 

We repassed the Kologha, with as much precipi- 
tation as we had foruierly crossed it under the aus- 
pices of victory. The steps which conducted to the 
river were so steep, and the frozen earth so slippery, 
that men and horses continually fell over each other. 
Happy would it have been for us, if the passage of 
other rivers, so often multiplied upon us, had not 
been even more dangerous than this. 

We saw again the abbey of Kolotskoi. Despoil- 
ed of its former splendour, and surrounded by ruins, 
it resembled more an hospital than a convent. It was 



232 BOROGHOBOUf. 

the only house which had been spared since our re- 
treat from Moscow. It was given to the sick and 
wounded, who wished to breathe their last in ite 
peaceful asylum. 

The fourth division, forming always the advance- 
ed-guard, halted at a miserable village, situated half 
a league to the right of the road, between the abbey 
ofKolotskoi, and Prokofevo. Of all the places of re- 
pose at which we had hitherto stopped, this was the 
most intolerable. Nothing remained but some 
wretched sheds, and the thatch had been torn from 
the roofs to give to the half-famished horses. Here, 
however, the prince and his staff were constrained 
to pass the night. 

On the morrow (October 31st.) we commenced 
our march at an early hour, and being arrived at the 
heights of Prokofevo, we heard the sound of cannon 
so near us, that the viceroy, fearing the prince of 
Eckmuhl was pushed by the enemy, halted on one of 
the heights, and drew up his troops in order of battle 
to succour him. For some days, many persons had 
complained of the slowness with which the first divi- 
sion marched. They had blamed the system of re- 
treat by echelons, adopted by the commander-in-chief, 
saying that it had lost three day's march, and thus had 
enabled the advanced-guard of Milorado witch easily 
to overtake us. Finally, they alleged that he ought 
to pass rapidly over a country which did not afford 
the means of subsistence. He might have replied in hig 
own justification, that too rapid a retreat would have 
redoubled the audacity of the enemy, who, strong 



DOROGHOBOUI. 233 

In light cavalrj, could at all timeis overtake us, and 
cut in pieces our rear-guard, if it had refused the 
combat. He could have added this maxim of war> 
—The more precipitate a retreat, the more fatal it 
becomes, because the fear which it occasions in the 
minds of the soldiers, is more to be dreaded than any 
physical evils. 

The viceroy had made these dispositions on the 
heights of Prokofe vo, to succour the prince of Eck- 
muhl, but soon understanding that that marshal was 
only harassed by the cossacks, he continued his 
march towards Ghiatz, always taking care that his 
divisions marched in the greatest order, and halting, 
whenever it was possible that the prince of Eckmuhl 
could want his support. It is impossible to give too 
much praise to prince Eugene, for his conduct in 
these critical circumstances. He was always the last 
of his column, and he now bivouacked a leao^ue on 
this side Ghiatz, that he might be ready the more 
promptly to repel the attack of the enemy. 

The night which the prince and his staff passed 
here was the severest to which they had been expos- 
ed. They halted on a little hill, noar the place where 
formerly stood the village of Ivachkova. Not one 
house lemained ; the whole hamlet had been lonsc 
since destroyed. To complete their sufferings, a vio- 
lent and piercing wind arose. Not a tree afforded 
them shelter, and nature, in depriving that situation 
of wood, had refused tlie only resource which could 
mitigate the severity of the climate of Russia, 
30 



234 BOROGHOBOUl. 

Although our own sufferings were thus gfeaf^ we 
were not insensible to those which our enemies endur- 
ed. On approaching Ghiatz in the morning, we felt 
the sincerest regret when we perceived that the whole 
town had disappeared. We should have searched for 
it in vain, had it not been for the ruins of a few houses 
of stone, which showed that this had once been a place 
of human habitation, and that we were not wander- 
ing amid the remains of a forest consumed by fire. 
Never were cruelty and revenge pushed so far. Ghi- 
atz, constructed entirely of Avood, disappeared in a 
day, and left its former inhabitants, and even its ene- 
mies, to regret the fall of its industry, and the des- 
truction of its prosperity. It was the most commer- 
eial and flourishing town in Russia. It contained 
many excellent manufactories of cloth and leather, 
and furnished the Russian navy w^ith considerable 
quantities of tar, cordage, and marine stores. 

The weather, which was piercingly cold in the 
night, was beautiful during the day ; and the troops, 
though almost worn out by their suflferings, and ex- 
posed to privations of every kind, were full of cour- 
age, and eager to meet the enemy. All seemed to 
feel that their only safety consisted in manfully strug- 
gling with the difficulties by which they were sur- 
rounded. They had, for many days, been reduced 
to subsist on horse-flesh; even the generals had begun 
to share the same food. The mortality of these ani- 
mals was then regarded as a fortunate circumstance ; 
and without this resource, the soldier would have 



DOROGHOBOUI. 235 

much more severely experienced the horrors of fa- 
mine. 

(November 1st.) The cossacks, whose approach 
we had dreaded, no longer delayed to realize our fears, 
Hitherto, while they had not been seen, the soldier 
marched with his accustomed confidence, and the 
baggacre- waggons feebly escorted, w^ere so numerous, 
that they formed many distinct convoys, at conside- 
rable distances from each other. Near the ruined vil- 
lage of Czarevo-Saimiche was a causeway, about five 
hundred feet long, where the great road formerly 
passed. The passage of the artillery had so worn it, 
that it was no longer practicable, and to continue the 
route, it was necessary to descend into a marshy mea- 
dow, cut by a large river. The waggons, which went 
first, easily passed over the ice ; but this, at length, 
being broken by the multitude which thronged over, 
it became necessary, either to expose themselves to 
the greatest danger in attempting to ford the river, or 
to wait whilst some wretched bridges were construct- 
ed in haste. In the meantime, the head of the co- 
lumn being thus arrested, fresh carriages continually 
arrived. Artillery, baggage-waggons, and sutlers' 
carts, all crowded one on another, and the drivers, ac- 
cording to their custom, profited by the momentary 
delay to light their fires, and to chafe their limbs be- 
numbed with cold. While all was in this imagined se- 
curity and complete confusion, on a sudden, the cos- 
sacks, uttering the most frightful cries, rushed from 
a thick wood on our left, and precipated themselves 
©n these poor wretches. All were panic struck at 



236 teOROGHOBOUl. 

their sight, and ahuost ynconscious of what they did. 
Some ran to the woods ; others fled to their carriages, 
and, lashing their feeble horses, galloped in confu- 
sion over the plain. These were most to be pitied. 
The rivulets, the marshes, the slipperiness, or the 
breaking of the ice, soon arrested their progress and 
left them an easy prey to their pursuers. They were 
most fortunate who, taking advantage of the nume- 
rous carriages, intrenched themselves behind them, 
and awaited that deliverance which was not slow in 
arriving ; for as soon as the cossacks perceived the 
infantry advancing upon them, they retreated, after 
having wounded a few of the drivers, and pillaged 
some of the ammunition waggons. 

The soldiers, to v»'hom the care of escorting or 
conducting the baggage was entrusted,, profited by 
the disorder which the presence of the cossacks ex- 
cited to pillage and destroy what they had sworn to 
defend. From that time dishonesty and theft spread 
themselves so rapidly and so universally through the 
arEuy, that we were scarcely more secure amongst 
our own soldiers, than we should have been in the 
liiidst of the enemy. Whatever the soldiers took a 
fancy to, they availed themselves of some opportuni- 
ty to purloin ; and encouraged by the impunity with 
which they set all discipline at defiance, they procu- 
red more frequent opportunities to pillage, by indus- 
iriously spreading false alarms. 

The royal guard was clearing the defile of Cza- 
revo-Seimiche when the baggage was attacked. It 
fuimediately received orders to halt, and while it rest- 



DOROGHOBOUI. 237 

«d on its arms, we saw the cossacks on our left, not 
two Imndred pacesfrom us, reconnoitring our situa- 
tion. It was even said, that profiting by the inter- 
vals which subsisted between some of our divisions, 
they frequently crossed our route. But their brava- 
does, exercised with success on the followers of our 
camp, had no effect when attempted against the regu- 
lar troops. When the royal guard saw the cossacks 
thus hovering on their flanks, they no longer continu- 
ed their march, but halted by a wood not far from 
Velitschevo. The other divisions, encamped near 
the viceroy, who remained constantly in the rear, 
since the Russians appeared so determined to harass 
our retreat. 

(November 2d.) On the morrow, three hours 
before day, we abandoned this position. Our noc- 
turnal march was truly terrifying. The night was 
fearfully dark, and, afraid of running one against 
another, we were compelled to grope along our way 
with a slowness which ffave us full leisure to indulge 
in the most melancholy reflections. In spite of our 
precaution, we often fell into the ditches on each side 
of the road, and were precipitated into the deep ra- 
vines by which it was intersected. At length our 
impatience for the dawn became insupportable. We 
hoped that its cheering light would render our march 
less painful, and would protect us from the ambushes 
of an enemy, whose accurate knowledge of the coun- 
try gave it a fatal advantage in all its manoeuvres. 

We were assured, indeed, that we should soon 
be attacked. Those who were acquainted with the 



236 DOROOHOBOUt. 

country, feared the position of Viazma, because they 
knew that, near that city, the road from Medouin, 
which part of the Russian army had taken after the 
battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz, and which was shorter 
than ours, joined the great road. They also regard- 
ed the Cossacks, who had appeared on the preceding 
evening, as the advanced-guard of the numerous ca- 
valry of PlatofF, and the two divisions of general 
Miloradowitch, which would suddenly burst upou us 
near Viazma. 

Our pioneers, and the equipage of the viceroy, 
were only a league from that city, and nothing yet 
betokened the presence of the enemy. In the mean- 
time, that prince being in the rear-guard with the 
first corps, and perceiving that the distance between 
the two extremities of his column hazarded the safe- 
ty of the army, ordered the troops which were in ad- 
vance to halt. In that interval, colonel Labedoyere, 
aid-de-camp to his highness, arrived from Viazma. 
On hearing the dangers to which that officer had been 
exposed, we doubted not that on the morrow we 
should be compelled to force our way with the point 
of the bayonet. 

The viceroy halted at Foedorovskoe, although 
he was expected at Viazma. The divisions of the 
army encamped around him. At his right, facing 
the enemy, were the Poles, a little in front of the 
first corps, which, though it was the rear guard, yet 
having been sharply pressed, was but a short dis- 
tance from us. Prince Eugene had indeed slacken- 
ed his march to form a junction with them. 



iJOROGHOBOUI. 239 

KoTeniber 3d.) Our divisions were on tlie march 
at six o'clock on the following morning. As we ap- 
proached Viazma, and our baggage was already in 
that city, the cossacks showed that they were indeed 
near us, by commencing a sudden and violent attack. 
The waggons however drew up round a little church, 
until the arrival of our troops put the enemy to flight* 
But when these troops attempted to continue their 
march, the first brigade of the thirteenth division, 
commanded by general Nagle, which formed the 
rear-guard of our part of the army, was attacked on 
its left flank, a league and a half from Viazma. Nu- 
merous squadrons of Russian horse issued from the 
very road which we had dreaded, and threw them- 
selves into the space which separated the fourth corps 
from the first. The viceroy perceiving the danger 
of his situation, suddenly halted his divisions, and 
recalled his artillery, that the well directed fire of the 
batteries might check an enemy, all v;?h6se manoeu- 
vres tended effectually to cut off our retreat by pos- 
sessing themselves of Viazma. 

While these divisions executed divers evolutions 
to frustrate the plans of the Russians, they were fol- 
lowed by the first corps, and we remarked, with 
regret that these troops, worn out, no doubt, by un- 
heard-of sufferings, and incessant combat, had lost 
that due subordination, and undaunted courage, 
which we had so often admired. The soldiers were 
regardless of discipline, and most of them being 
wounded, or sinking under f^Uigue, increased the 
crowd of mere camp-followers. 



240 DOROGHOBOUI. 

The fourth corps was thus left for a considerable 
time, to sustain alone, not only the charge of a nu-* 
nierous cavalry, but also the reiterated attacks of a 
body of Russian infantry, consisting of more than 
twelve thousand men. The first corps, however, 
having filed olT behind us, to the right of the road, at 
length took a position on the left of the same road, 
between Viazma and the point of attack, and thus re- 
lieved the troops of the fourth corps, which the vice- 
roy had caused to advance, at the beginning of the 
action. These were now enabled to occupy some 
advantageous positions, which they found at the right 
of the road, and thus, conjointly with the first corps, 
were ready to receive the attack, which the Russians 
again threatened. 

Our fourteenth division, w hich had been in front 
of the thirteenth, suffered that division now to pass 
it, and relieved it by becoming the rear-guard. The 
fifteenth which had followed the fourteenth, remain- 
ed with the royal guard, near Viazma, as a reserve. 
The order of battle being thus arranged, the enemy's 
infantry advanced, and the engagement commenced 
with considerable warmth, but with a decided supe- 
riority in artillery on the part of the Russians. The 
miserable state of our horses would not permit us to 
manoeuvre our pieces with much celerity. It was in 
this engagement that colonel Banco, aid-de-camp to 
the viceroy, and commandant of the second regiment 
of Italian horse-chasseurs, had his head carried off 
by a cannon-balL 



DCyROGHOBOUf. 241 

Our troops, notwilhstanding their inferiority, 
maintained their positions long enough for the bag- 
gage to pass through Viazma, in the greatest order. 
A party of the enemy's cavahy then attempted to 
breakthrough our two wings. That which, during 
our retreat, had advanced on our right, was repulsed 
by a body of infantry furnished with cannon. The 
other, on our left, was equally repulsed by the Bava- 
rian horse, which were opposed to it, and by some 
battalions of sharp-shooters concealed in the bushes^, 
with which the field of battle was covered. 

This manoeuvre of the Russians, however, spread 
the greatest consternation among those whom either 
disease of body or want of courage had caused to 
quit their ranks, and to mingle with the followers of 
the camp. This description of persons was, unhap- 
pily, very numerous, principally among the cavalry 
which was almost entirely dismounted. They were> 
in truth, become more than useless to us. In the 
perilous situation in which we then found ourselves, 
they constituted our greatest danger. They not only 
impeded all our manoeuvres, but they spread alarms 
and disorder on all sides, by flying with precipitation 
before an enemy with which their cowardice would 
not permit them to fight. The cossacks, likewise, 
seeing this feeble and unarmed multitude flying be- 
fore them, acquired fresh courage, and attacked us 
with redoubled ardour, believing that these columns 
of fugitives were the only troops wiU which the^ 
had to contend, 

31 



242 DOROGHOBOUi; 

Although we repulsed every atf a*^k, our situation 
was becoming exreedingl}' critical, until, happily, the 
grand ravine, situated at the left of our route, and 
above all, the excellent position which the duke of 
Elchingen occupied, arrested theprogress of the Rus- 
sians. That marshal, being left the day before in a 
position near Viazma to await the passage of the first 
corps, and to take its place as rear-guard, had the 
gloiy of extricating us from the greatest danger, to 
which we had hitherto been exposed. During the 
whole action he assisted in person, and he continued 
to mrrch with the viceroy and the prince of Eck- 
muhl, that he might confer with them on the meas- 
ures which it was necessary to adopt. 

It was nearly four hours after mid-day, when our 
felivision passed through Viazma. Leaving the city, 
we saw the third division encamped on a little hill on 
our left. We owed much gratitude to that corps for 
having so well defended that important situation. 
The bravery with which those troops maintained their 
ground, rendered the fierce and reiterated attacks of 
an enemy, superior in numbers, completely ineffectu- 
al, and contributed much to save the first and fourti^ 
corps from absolute destruction. That last division 
was thus enabled to accomplish its retreat behind 
the river of Viazma, where the prince endeavoured 
to repair the disasters of this battle so unfortunate, 
and sustained under circumstances in which the 
most skilful combinations coidd scarcely promise a 
favourable issue. 



DOROGHOBOUI. ' 243 

Traversing the foiest at the foot of the hill of Vi- 
azma. we overtook a ron?oy of the sick and wound- 
ed, which had left Moscow before us. These unfor- 
tunate beings, after having been many days deprived 
of nnedical assistance, and ahnost of food, encamped 
in this forest, which served them for an hospital and 
a grave. The horses had perished of fatigue and 
hunger, and their guards had forsaken these unhap- 
py wretches, and abandoned them to their fate. We 
encamped near them, and, at the approach of nighty, 
kindled an enomous fire, at the back of a little hill 
covered with brushwood. The royal guard was 
round the tent of the prince, the thirteenth and four^ 
teenth divisions were placed on our flanks, while the 
fifteenth division, though considerably weakened, 
formed our rear-guard. 

From this position the whole horizon appeared on 
fire. It was occasioned by the destruction of those 
houses at Viazma, which had escaped the first confla- 
gration. The third corps, which always preserved 
its position to protect our retreat, althou2:h it was 
separated from the Russians by a river, and by deep 
ravines, seemed to be frequently attacked. Often in 
the silence of the night, we were startled by the re- 
port of cannon, which, passing over the thick forests, 
sounded in a peculiarly mournful and horrible man- 
ner. This unexpected sound repeated by the echoes 
of the valley, was lengthened into dismal reverbera- 
tions ; and often, when our harassed powers were 
sinking into calm and refreshing repose, suddenly 
roused us, while we hastily and fearfully ran to arrrigs 



244 J30ROGHOBOU1. 

expecting that the enemy, which we knew to be at 
hand, was advancing to surprise us. 

-(November 4th.) At one o'clock in the morning 
the viceroy deemed it prudent, to profit by the obscu- 
rity of the night, to eflfect his retreat, and gain some 
hour's march on the Russians with whom he could 
not fight, since famine would not permit us to re- 
main one unnecessary day in a country completely 
depopulated and laid waste. We marched along the 
great road, groping our way in the dark. The route 
was entirely covered with the fragments of carriages 
and artillery. Men and horses, worn out with fa- 
tigue, could scarcely drag themselves along, and, as 
soon as the last fell exhausted, the soldiers eagerly 
divided the carcass among them, and hastened to 
broil on the coals that food, which during many days, 
had constituted their only nourishment. Suffering 
yet more from the cold than from hunger, they aban- 
doned their ranks, to warm themselves by a fire has- 
tily kindled ; but, when they would rise to depart^ 
their frost-bitten limbs refused their office, a partial 
iusensibiiity crept over them, and they preferred to 
fall into the hands of the enemy, rather than make a 
feeble effort to continue their journey. 

Day had broken some time when we arrived at 
the village of Polianovo, near which ran the little 
river Osma. The bridge was very narrow and bad. 
The crowd which had to pass it was immense. As 
every one eagerly rushed on to clear this narrow de- 
file, the viceroy was compelled to order the officers 
pf bis staff to interpose their authority, and to maior 



DOROGHOBOUi. 245 

tain some little order in so dangerous a place. He 
even condescended to stay himself, and to use every 
necessary precaution to facilitate the passage of the 
artillery, in the midst of a crowd of carriages which 
pressed on towards the bridge. 

Beneath the town of Semlevo ran another branch 
of the river Osma, more considerable than the first. 
The march of the troops was not, however, delayed. 
They profited by a bridge both large and solid, to 
extricate themselves from a situation, from which the 
enemy might have derived the greatest advantages, 
jjad they been able to gain possession of it. Sem- 
levo, built on a steep hill, commands the road by 
which we arrived. At its foot is the Osma, which, 
almost surrounding it, w^ould have rendered it im- 
possible for us to have forced that position. 

Towards the close of the day, we found shelter 
for the prince, in a little chapel situated near this riv- 
er, which making a considerable circuit to the right 
from Semlevo, returns again, and passes the road, at 
the spot at which we now were. We had scarcely 
established ourselves round the chapel, when the 
camp-followers, having gone to forage, were attacked 
jay the cossacks, and fled back with precipitation. 
Some had lost their horses, others their clothes, and 
many were covered with wounds from the sabre and 
the lance. It was necessary then to think of retreat- 
ing, and while the baggage of the viceroy evacuated 
the position, we saw the troops of the enemy advan- 
cing to the banks of that branch of the Osma, which 
yve were about to pass. In these circumstances, we 



246 llOROGHOBOUI. 

were convinced how necessary it was in a retreat to 
secure well the passage of every river. This, though 
small, was scarcely fordable, and had no bridge. To 
cross it, men, horses, and waggons, precipitated 
themselves into the water. Our situation was the 
more deplorable, as the Russians, profiting by our 
distress, began to harass the rear of the column, and 
to spread consternation among the immense crowd, 
which, remaining on the other side, saw itself com- 
pelled to cross a deep and half frozen river, whose 
banks were extremely boggy. During this time we 
heard the balls of the enemy whistling over our heads, 
and threatening every moment to destroy us. With 
this exception the passage of the river presented no- 
thing unfortunate. Night approached, and the cos- 
sacks discontinued their attacks. Our loss merely 
consisted of a few carriages, which we were compel- 
led to leave in the middle of the water. 

This obstacle being surmounted, we entered on a 
forest, at the extremity of which, towards the left, 
was a chateau^ long ago pillaged. We established 
ourselves there for the night, near the village of 
Rouibki. We had only horse flesh to eat, excef)t a 
little flour that had been brought from Moscow, 
which remained in one of the waggons. A very small 
quantity of this was given to each officer to make his 
honiUie. It was carefully measured out to every one 
with a spoon. As for our horses, we were well con- 
tent if we could give them the straw, which in our 
former passage iwd served them for litter. 



DOROGHOBOIJI. 247 

(November 51b.) Early in the morning we pur- 
sued our retreat, and, without any fatal rencontre 
with the enemy, arrived at a large village, of which 
some houses had been spared. We particularly re- 
marked a large house built of stone, and we desig- 
nated that village by the name of the Stone-House.* 
We could rarely ascertain the names of the placee 
through which we passed, and we described them in 
our journals by something characteristic, whether it 
referred to their situation, or form, or any peculiar 
hardships which we there endured. One was called 
the Hurrah, from the dreadful cry of the cossacks- 
Another, * That near which we were beaten.* We 
spoke not of those at which we had suffered from 
hunger, for that was common to every village through 
which we passed. 

Hitherto we had endured our misfortunes with 
calmness and resignation, buoyed up by the flattering 
hope that they would soon cease. When we depart- 
ed from Moscow, we had regarded Smolensko as the 
limit of our retreat. There we trusted that we should 
rejoin the divisions left on the Nieper and the Dwina, 
and, taking these two rivers as the boundary of 
our territories, should have the beautiful country of 
Lithuania for our^ winter quarters. We likewise 
pleased ourselves with the thought, that Smolensko 
abounded in provisions of every kind ; and that, to 
relieve us from the labours under which we were ra- 

^ This village appears, from the map, to have been Jolkou Postoi's 
i>oor. 



243 COROGHOBOUi. 

pidi J sinkino", we should find the ninth division, com^ 
posed of twenty-five thousand fresh troops. This 
city was therefore the object of our fondest wishes^ 
and our most pleasing dreams. Every one was anx- 
ious to arrive thither, persuaded that within its walls 
the dreadful calamities which now environed us would 
for ever cease. The name of Smolensko passed from 
mouth to mouth, and each pronounced it with confi- 
dence to those who were sinliing under their suffer- 
ings, as their truest, their only consolation. There 
was magic in the name. It carried with it a happy 
oblivion of all our past miseries, and inspired us with 
courage to support the fatigues which we were yet 
to encounter. 

(November 6th.) We marched towards Smolen- 
sko, with an ardour which redoubled our strength j 
and approaching Doroghoboui", distant from that 
city only twenty leagues, the thought that in three 
days we should reach the end of all our misfortunes, 
filled us with the most intoxicating joy ; when sud- 
denly the atmosphere, which had hitherto been so 
brilliant, was clouded by cold and dense vapours. 
The sun, enveloped by the thickest mists, disappear- 
ed from our sight, and the snow falling in large 
flakes, in an instant obscured the day, and confound- 
ed the earth with the sky. The wind, furiously blow- 
ing, howled dreadfully through the forests, and over- 
whelmed the firs, already bent down with the ice ; 
while the country around, as far as the eye could 
reach, presented, unbroken, one white and savage 
Tippearance. 



DOROGHOBOUI, 249 

The soldiers, vainJy struggling with the snow and 
the wind, which rushed upon them with the violence 
of a whirlwind, could no longer distinguish the road ; 
and falling into the ditches which bordered it, there 
found a grave. Others pressed on towards the end 
of their journey, scarcely able to drag themselves 
along, badly mounted, badly clothed, with nothing to 
eat, nothing to drink, sjiivering with the cold, and 
groaning with pain. Becoming selfish through de- 
spair, they afforded neither succour, nor even one 
glance of pity, to those Avho, exhausted by fatigue 
and disease, expired around them. How many un- 
fortunate beings, on that dreadful day, dying of cold 
and famine, struggled hard with the agonies of death I 
We heard some of them faintly bidding theii' last 
adieu to their friends and comrades. Others, as they 
drew their last breath, pronounced the name of their 
mothers, their wives, their native country, which they 
were never more to see. The rigour of the frost 
soon seized on their benumbed limbs, and penetrat- 
ed throui>;h the whole frame. Stretched on the road, 
we could distinguish only the heaps of snow which 
covered them, and which, at almost every step form- 
ed little undulations, like so many graves. At the 
same time vast flights of ravens, abandoning the 
plain to take refuge in the neighbouring forests, 
croaked mournfully as they passed over our heads • 
and troops of dogs which had followed us from 
Moscow, and lived solely on our mangled remains, 
howled around us, as if they would hasten the peri- 
od when we were to become their prey. 
32 



250 DOROGHOBOUI. 

From that day the army lost its courage and its 
military attitude. The soldier no longer obeyed his 
officer. The officer separated himself from his gen- 
eral. The regiments disbanded, marched in disorder. 
Searching for food, they spread themselves over the 
plain, burning and pillaging whatever fell in their 
way. The horses fell by thousands.* The cannon 
and the waggons which had been abandoned, served 
only to obstruct the way. No sooner had the sol- 
diers separated from the ranks, than we were assail- 
ed by a population eager to avenge the horrors of 
which it had been the victim. The cossacks came 
to the succour of the peasants, and drove back to the 
great road, already filled with the dying and the dead, 
those of the followers who escaped from the carnage 
made among them. 

Such was the situation of the army, when we ar- 
rived at Doroghoboui. This little town w^ould have 
given new life to our unfortunate troops, if Napoleon 
had not been so far blinded by rage, as to forget, 
that his soldiers would be the tirst to suffer hy the 
devastation which he caused to be made. Dorosfho- 
hoiii had been burnt, its magazines pillaged, and the 
brandy with which they were filled, had been poured 
into the streets, while the rest of the army was per- 
ishing for want of it. The few houses which re- 
mained, were occupied exclusively by a small num- 
ber of generals and staff-officers. The few soldiers 
which yet dared to face the enemy, were exposed to 

* See the Uventy-nintb bulletira. 



DOROGHOBOUI. 251 

all the rigours of the season ; while the others, who 
had wandered from their proper corps, were now re- 
pulsed on every side, and found no shelter in any 
part of the camp. How deplorable was then the sit- 
uation of these poor wretches ! Tormented by hun- 
ger, we saw them run after every horse the moment 
it fell. They devoured it raw, like dogs, and fought 
among themselves for the mangled limbs. Worn 
out by want of sleep and long marches, they saw no- 
thing around them but the snow ; not one spot ap- 
peared on which they could sit oi- lie. Penetrated 
with the cold, they wandered on every side to find 
wood, but the snow had caused it entirely to disap- 
pear. If, fortunately, they found a little, they knew 
not where to light it. Did they discover a spot less 
exposed than others, it afforded them but a momenta 
ary shelter, for scarcely had their fire kindled, when 
the violence of the wind, and the moisture of the at- 
mosphere, suddenly extinguished it, and deprived 
them of the only consolation which remained, in their 
extreme distress. In one place we saw a multitude 
of them, huddled together like beasts, at the root of 
a beech, or pine, or under a waggon. Others were 
employed in tearing down huge branches from the 
trees, or pulling down by main force, and burning 
the houses, at which the officers lodged. Ahhough 
they were exhausted by fatigue, they stood erect. 
They wandered like spectres through the livelong 
night, or stood immoveable around some enormous 
fire. 



252 BOROGHOBOUr. 

The unfortuDate Paulowna, whom the reader will 
rerollect, when he rails to mind the pillage of Mos- 
cow, had hitherto accompanied us, and shared in all 
our misfortunes and privations. She endured them 
with the courage which her virtue inspired. Believ- 
ing that she carried in her bosom a pledge of love, 
which she imagined to be legitimate, she was eager 
to become a mother, and proud to follow her hus- 
band. But he, who had pledged himself to her by 
the most solemn promises, having been informed in 
the morning, that we were not to take up our winter- 
quarters at Smolensko, determined to break a con- 
nexion, which he had regarded as merely temporary. 
Inaccessible to pity, he approached this innocent 
creature, and, under some specious pretext, an- 
nounced to her that they must part. At this intelli- 
gence she uttered a cry of surprise and horror, and 
franticly declared, that having sacrificed her family, 
and even her reputation for him, whom she regarded 
as her husband, it was her duty to follow him ; and 
that neither fatigues nor dangers should turn her 
from a resolution, in which her love and her honour 
were equally interested. The general little sensible 
of the value of an attachment so rare, coldly repeat- 
ed, that they must p>art, since circumstances would 
no longer permit the women to remain with the 
troops ; that he was already married, and that hj re- 
turning speedily to Moscow, she might find the hus- 
band for whom her parents had destined her. At these 
cruel words, his interesting victim felt almost annihi- 
latedo Paler than when she rushed from the tombs 



DOROGHOBODT. 253 

of the Kremlin, she uliered not a word. She sighed, 
she wept, and suffocated by her grief, fell into a state 
of insensibility. Her perfidious seducer took ad van- 
tai^e of this to withdraw from her presence, not be- 
cause he was overpowered by his sensibility; he, alas! 
was a stranger to every tender and generous feeling ; 
but to fly from the Russians, whose cries of ven- 
geance he already fancied that he heard. 



BOOK VIII. 



KRASNOE. 



When Napoleon quitted Moscow, he intended 
to reunite his troops between Witepsk and Smolen- 
sko, and make the Nieper and the Dvvina the grand 
line of his operations. The 6th and 7th of Novem- 
ber, having destroyed the third part of his army, he, 
on his arrival at Smolensko, alledged that destruc- 
tion, and the inclemency of the winter, as the reasons 
of his abandoning his former design. But the true and 
only motive which induced him to change his plan, 
was the news which he received at Smolensko (10th 
November) that Wittgenstein had forced the Dwina, 
that Witepsk had been taken with its garrison, and 
that the army of Moldavia, united to that of Volhy- 
nia, having driven before it the corps of prince 
Schwartzenberg, was taking a position on the Bere- 
sina with the design of joining Wittgenstein, and ef- 
fectually cutting off the retreat of the French army. 
This manoeuvre of the enemy was so well known, 
and appeared so natural, that a report soon spread 
among the troops, that it was the intention of the 



256 KRASNOEi 

Russians to take Napoleon alive, and to put his whole 
army to the sword ; wishing, by this severe chastise- 
ment, to give Europe an example of the punishment 
which they deserved who disturbed the world with 
Mnjust wars. 

In truth, it was not the severity of a premature 
winter which rendered the plans of Napoleon abor- 
tive, because if he could have maintained himself be- 
tween Smolensko and Witepsk, he would easily have 
repaired the losses which he had hitherto suffered. 
The principal, and the only cause of his ruin, was 
bis determination to proceed to Moscow, without 
considering the forces which he left in his rear, and 
to elFect, at the price of our blood, that which the 
most headstrong and imprudent monarch* had not 
dared to attempt. 

The desire of pillaging that capital, and the am- 
bition of dictating his laws there, made him sacrifice 
every thing. He rushed oo, eager to destroy the an- 
cient palace of the czars, forgetful of the winter, and 
all its horrors ; forgetful that Wittgenstein had never 
abandoned the Dwina ; and that Tschikakolf, return- 
ed from ]\Ioldavia, would attack him on his return 
from his foolish expedilioo. 

Napoleon, ignorant as yet of the progress which 
the enemy had made on the Dwina, determined that 
the fourth corps should pass the Nieper, and march 
on Witepsk, to etiect a junction with the garrison of 
that town, commanded by general Pouget. After 

*^ Charles Xif. of Sweden. 



KRASNOE. 25'? 

reconnoitring vvhetherthe approach of vvinterhad still 
left this route practicable, general Samson, with some 
engineers which he commanded, was ordered to tra- 
verse the country, and examine particularly the banks 
of the Wop. These officers had scarcely passed the 
Nieper, when they fell into the hands of a party of 
Cossacks, by whom all these rivers were infested. 

(November 7th.) While the fourih corps pro- 
ceeded in the direction of Witepsk, we left Dorogho- 
boui, and passed the Borysthenes on a bridge of 
rafts, opposite that village. The borses found the 
greatest difficulty in climbing the opposite fc.mk. 
The road was become as slippery as glass, and these 
animals, already exhausted, were no longer able to 
draw. Twelve or sixteen horses harnessed to one 
cannon had scarcely strength to drag it over the small- 
est hill. It was intended to proceed the first day as 
far as Zazele ; but the road was so execrably bad, 
that even on the following morning, the waggons had 
scarcely reached the sixth league. Many cannon and 
horses were of necessity abandoned; and it was on 
that cruel night that the soldiery, no longer under 
controul, began to pillage the baggage. The ground 
was covered with portmanteaus, boxe?", and papers ; 
and many articles stolen from Moscow, which some 
remains of shame had hitherto concealed, once more 
saw the light. 

The beautiful chateau of Zazele presented us, 
during the night, with a repetition of the scenes of 
yesterday. With the exception of those whom the 
pillage of the waggons had reanimated, we saw nothing 

m 



^58 KRASNO"^, 

on every side but men dying of hung»v and of cioTd'; 
and horses tormented by thirst, endeavourinaj to 
break the ice with their feet, to find that water which 
We were unable to give them. 

(November 8th.) Our baggage was so consid- 
erable, that the losses which it had sustained were yet 
scarcely felt. We marched all day, and with mucb 
alacrity, for we thought that, having quitted the great 
road of Smolensko, and pursued one which had ex- 
perienced less of the calamities of war, we might find 
some villages to shelter us from the inclemency of 
the night, where our famished troops might obtain 
refreshment, and especially where we might procure 
gome forage for our meagre horses. But this flat- 
tering hope was soon destroyed. The village of Slo» 
boda, at which we were to sleep, presented us with 
new horrors. Every thing was destroyed ; and the 
Cossacks, hovering on our flanks, seized, and pillaged 
or massacred, every one who, urged by necessity, 
wandered but a little way from the ranks to seek for 
food. In these dreadful circumstances, general Dan- 
thouard, whose talents had before proved so useful, 
appeared to multiply himself, and to be present 
wherever danger threatened. He caused ourartillery 
to act with eflect, on every point where it could be 
brought to bear ; when, as he was passing our lines, 
a cannon ball fractured his right thigh, after having 
killed the orderly soldier by his side. 

The viceroy, knowing that we ought to cross the 
Wop on the following day, had sent general Poite- 
vio forward in the night, with some engineers, to con ■ 



KRASNOE. 259 

struct a bridoje for our passage. We arrived on the 
banks of the river at an early hour on the morrow, 
when, to the great grief of the prince, and our ut- 
most despair, we saw the whole army and the bag- 
gage ranged along the Wop, without being able to 
pass it. The bridge had been begim, and nearly 
finished, but the waters had suddenly increased durr 
ing the night, and carried it away. 

The Cossacks, whom we had seen the night be- 
fore, did not fail to advance upon us, when they were 
apprised of our critical situation. We already 
heard the fire of our sharp-shooters, who endeavoured 
to keep them in check ; but the noise of the fire-arms 
rapidly approaching, convinced us that the audacity 
of the enemy increased at the view of our dangers. 
In the meantime the viceroy, whose noble soul was 
always calm in the midst of the greatest dangers, 
maintained a presence of mind most important in 
circumsiances so desperate. To reanimate the spirits 
of the soldiers, who were more terrified at the pre- 
sence of the Cossacks, than at the dangers of the 
Wop, he despatched some chosen troops, who, re- 
pulsing the Russians on our flanks, and on our rear^, 
left us at liberty to attempt the passage of the river. 

The prince, seeing that it was necessary for some 
officer of rank to set an example of courage, in cross- 
ing first, ordered colonel Delfanti to place himself at 
the head of the royal guard, and to pass the ford of 
;the Wop. That brave officer, whose intrepidity can- 
not be too highly praised, embraced with ardour this 
opportunity of showing his devotion to the service^ 



200 ' KRASNOK. 

and in sight of all our corps, with the water reaching 
to his waist, made his way through the accumulated 
ice, at the head of the grenadiers, and surmounted 
every difficulty. 

The viceroy immediately followed with his staff^ 
and, having arrived at the other side, he issued the 
necessary orders to facilitate a passage so dangerous. 
The waggons now began to file off. The first passed 
happily over, and after them a few pieces of artillery. 
But as the channel was far below the level of the 
ground, and the banks steep, and glittering with ice, 
the only practicable point was where a gentle declivi- 
ty had been dug to descend to the river. The can- 
non, all following in the same track, formed ruts so 
deep, that it was impossible to drag them out. Thus 
the only accessible ford was soon choaked up, and 
rendered utterly impassable for the rest of the ar- 
tillery and baggage. 

In this situation every one yielded to despair; for, 
notwithstanding the efforts made by our rear-guard 
to repulse the Russians, it was but too evident that 
they advanced. Our very fear doubled our dan- 
ger. The river was half frozen, and as the waggons 
could not possibly cross it, it was necessary for those 
who had no horses, to determine to wade through the 
stream. Our situation was the more deplorable, as we 
were forced to abandon a hundred pieces of cannon, 
and a great number of ammuniton and provision 
waggons, carts, and drouschkiy^ wdiich contained the 

* An elegant little carriage much um^ at Moscow. 



KRASNOE. 261 

little which remained of the provisions of Moscow. 
As soon as the necessity became thus apparent, every 
one abandoned his vehicle, and hastily loaded his 
horse with his most valuable effects. But scarcely 
had any one resolved to leave his carriage, before 
a crowd of soldiers giving the owner no time to 
select what he thought pioper, violently seized on it 
and in a moment pillaged it of every thing which it 
contained, principally searching for flour and brandy. 
The artillery-men abandoned their pieces, and on the 
report that the enemy rapidly approached, immedi- 
ately spiked them, despairiiig to convey them across 
a river, every part of which was choked with waggons 
sticking fast in the clay, and the bodies of innume- 
rable soldiers and horses, who had been carried away 
by the stream. The cries of those who were crossing 
the river, the consternation of others who were pre- 
paring to descend, and whom with their horses, we 
every moment saw overwhelmed by the current, the 
despair of the women, the shrieks of the children, 
and the terror even of the soldiers, rendered this pas- 
sage a scene so horrible, that the very recollection 
of it yet terrifies those who witnessed it. 

Although it is most painful to recall to memory 
the dreadful events of that day, I cannot prevail on 
myself to forbear recounting one trait of mate>pal 
love, so touching, and so honourable to human na- 
ture, that the sight of it compensated for the aiiiic- 
tion which those unfortunate beings occasioned me, 

A female suttler of our corps, who had b^en witi? 
us during the whole campaign, returned from Mos* 



2bZ KRASNOE. 

COW, carryina^ in a waggon five young children, and all 
the fruit of her industry. Arrived at the Wop, she 
regarded witli horror the rapid stream, which com- 
pelled her to leave on its banks, all her little fortune, 
and the future subsistence of her children. For a long 
time she ran up and down, eagerly looking for a new 
passage, when, returning in despair from her fruitless 
search, she said to her husband, * we must indeed 
abandon all ; let us now try only hov>7 to save our chil- 
dren,' Saying this, she took the two youngest from 
the waggon, and placed them in her husband's arms. 
I saw the poor father closely hug the innocent crea- 
tures, and, with a trembling foot traverse the rivpr, 
while his wife on her knees at the edge of the water, 
now gazed eagerly on him, and then raised her eyes 
to heaven ; but as soon as she saw him safely landed, 
she lifted her hands in gratitude to Providence, and 
leaping on her feet, exclaimed with transport, * they 
are saved, they are saved.' The anxious father de- 
positing his precious burden on the bank, hastened 
back, seized on two more of them, and again plung- 
ing into the waves, followed by his wife, who bore 
the fifth on one arm, and with the other hand clung 
fast to her husband, reached the shore in safety. The 
children who were first carried over, thinking them- 
selves abandoned by their parents, had made the air 
resound with their cries, but their tears soon ceased 
to flow, when the affectionate family was again re- 



Night approaching, we quitted this place of deso- 
lation, and encamped near a wretched village, half a 



KRASNOE. . 2G3 

leao'ue from the banks of the Wop, whence we often 
heard, in the middle of the night, the lamentable cries 
of those who were yet attempting their passage. We 
had left the fourteenth division on the other side, to 
hold the enemy in check, and to endeavour to save 
some part of the immense baggage which we had 
abandoned. I was sent on the morrow, to recall thif3 
division, and was thus enabled to perceive all the ex- 
tent of our loss. For more than a league, nothing 
was to be seen on the road and the banks of the river, 
but ammunition waggons, pieces of artillery, and the 
most elegant carriages, brought from Moscow. The 
articles with which these waggonshad been filled, and 
that were too heavy to be carried away, were heaped 
on every side. I saw rnany figures of antique bronze, 
chandeliers of the greatest value, origin aland exqui- 
site paintings, and the richest and mostesteemed por- 
celain. I perceived among the rest, a cup of the 
most beautiful workmanship, on which was depict- 
ed the sublime composition of Marcus Sextus. I 
took it, and drank from it some of the water of the 
Wop, full of dirt and ice. After I had thus used 
it, I cast it from me with indifference, near the place 
where I had found it. 

Our troops had scarcely cjuitted the other bank 
when clouds of cossacks, no longer finding any op- 
position, advanced to the river, where they found ma- 
ny unhappy wretches who, feeble and diseased, had 
been unable to pass the ford. Although our enemies 
were now surrounded and oppressed with plunder^ 
they yet stripped their miserable prisoners, and left 



264 ICRASKOEo 

tbem naked on the snow. We could see, trom the 
opposite bank, the cosssacks sharing; among them- 
selves the bloody spoils. If their courage had equal- 
led their love of pillage, the Wop would not have de- 
fended us from their attacks. But these cowardly as- 
sailants were always stopped by a few bayonets, or 
contented themselves with firing at us a few cannon^ 
shot, which often, indeed, reached our ranks. 

The last night had been truly dreatlful. To form 
some idea of it, the reader must picture to himself 
an army encamped on the bare snow, in the midst of 
the severest winter, closely pursued by the enemy, 
and having neither artillery nor cavalry to oppose to 
him. The soldiers without shoes, and almost with- 
out clothes, were enfeebled by fatigue and famine. 
Sitting on their knapsacks, they slept on their knees. 
From this benumbing posture they only rose to broil 
some slices of horse-flesh, or to melt a few morsels 
of ice. Often they had no wood, and to make their 
fires, they destroyed the houses in which the generals 
lodged ; sometimes, therefore, when we awoke in the 
morning, the village which we had seen the night be- 
fore had disappeared, and towns, which to-day were 
untouched, would form on the morrow one vast con- 
f!a2;ration. In the midst of tlu^se sufferings the vice- 
roy, always at our head, never lost his calmness and 
serenity of mind. Enduring comparatively far grea- 
ter privations than we, he was always cheerful, and 
preserved his presence of mind amidst the most urg- 
ent dangers, oiFering, at the same time, in his own ex- 
ample, the most perfect model of military discipline. 



KSasnoe. 265 

The Cossacks, perceiving that we had quitted our 
position, soon crossed the river and attacked our rear. 
The fourteenth division, which had preserved twelve 
pieces of cannon, formed the rear-guard, and repuls- 
ed the enemy. In the meantime the prince and his 
officers endeavoured to reduce to some order, ami en- 
tice bar-k to their ranks, those soldiers whom misery 
had forced to leave their colours to search for food. 
They attempted this, however, without success. 
The number of the stragglers was so great, that it 
was i npossibJe either to arrest or to check them. 
Even when some had returned to their duty, the de- 
sertion soon recommenced. Hunger, imperious hun- 
ger, seduced them again from their colours, and 
threw all our columns into confusion. The more 
enfeebled we becafne,the more enterprising were our 
adversaries. Their attacks on our rear-guard were 
almost incessant, and we were frequently compelled 
to halt, and contend against superior forces, which 
endeavoured to overwhehn us on every side. 

The rear of our column was briskly pressed, 
when the royal guard, which formed its head, was 
stopped before Dukhovcbtchina, by some squadrons 
of Cossacks, which issciing from the town, deployed 
in the plain, as if tliey would surround us. Seeing 
that we were thus pressed on every side, our corps 
fell into such disorder, that it resembled one im- 
mense crowd, half of which were sick and disarmed. 
In the meantime the enemy maintained his ground 
on one^ side of us, and on the other attacked us with 
U 



266 KRASFOE, 

vigour. Put the prinre ever preserving bis courage 
Unbroken, formed tbe Italian guard, and the Bavarian 
dragoons and light horse, into a square, which, march- 
ing in platoons, drove bade the cossacks, and per- 
mitted us to enter Dukhovchtchina. The thirteenth 
division was formed in column close to these troops, 
in spite of the multitude of stragglers, which, press- 
ing round our battalions, impeded every manceuvre. 
That he might accellerate Ihe march of the army, the 
prince hisnself watched during the night, and super- 
intended the repair of an old bridge which arrested 
our progress. To encourage the engineers, he even 
condescended to assist at the work, while every pri- 
vation to which he exposed himself, rendered h'lm 
clearer to those whom he commanded. 

The little town of Dukhovchtchina, through which 
onr army bad not before passed,* had escaped the 
general destruction. The inhabitants, flyins; at our 
approach, left us some provisions, which we eagerly 
collected, coarse as they were. But that which 
rendered them most precious was the opportunity 
of preparing them in some human habitation, and 
enjoying for a little while a shelter from the exces- 
sive cold of a piercing wind. 

The viceroy despatched an officer towards Smo- 
lenska, to announce to Napoleon the disasters which 
we bad experienced on the Wop. It wa^, doubtless, 
to await the reply of the emperor, and to know whe- 

* Excepting the cavalry commanded by general G'rouchy; arwl the 
'livision of Pino, when it returned from Porietseh, 



KRA6NOE. 267 

iher we were yet to continue our march upon Wi- 
tepsk, that we were perinilted to enjoy one day's rest 
at Dukhovchtchina. But, when that officer did not 
return, it was determined that we should recommence 
our march at two o'clock on the following morning. 
We had been undisturbed during the whole of the 
day, but at ten o'clock at night, while we were in- 
dulging in a sweet repose, to which we had been so 
long unaccustomed, the cossacks appeared before the 
town, and directed their artillery on the fires round 
which our soldiers were sleeping. Many picquets 
were surprised ; those of the one hundred and sixth 
regiment, placed before a church, suffered consider- 
able loss ; but the presence of the viceroy soon re- 
paired the disorder which so unexpected an attack 
had occasioned. The troops were immediately col- 
lected, and occupied every position which could be 
favourable to us in a noctural encounter. This attack 
was followed by nothing of consequence, for it was 
made by the cossacks, who took care to be far enough 
away when they perceived that we were taking mea- 
sures to punish their temerity. 

(November 12th.) The hour of departure being 
arrived, we set fire to Dukhovchtchina, whose houses 
had been so useful to us. Although sufficiently ac- 
customed to all the effects of a conflagration, we 
could not restrain our astonishment at the horrible, 
yet superb spectacle, which it now presented, amid 
the shades of a forest covered with snow, and 
strangely illumined by torrents of flames. The trees, 
covered with a sheet of ice, dazzled the sight 



268 KRASNOE. 

and produced as with a prism, the most vivid and 
variegated colours. The branches of the birch, 
drooping to the ground like the weeping willow, ap- 
peared like beautiful chandeliers, while the icicles, 
melted by the heat, seemed to scatter around us a 
shower of brilliant and sparkling diamonds. 

In the midst of a scene full of splendid horror, 
our troops reunited, and proceeded from the town on 
the road to Smolensko. Although the night was un- 
usually dark, the flames that ascended from the 
neighbouring villages, which had been also destroy- 
ed, formed so many aurorae-boreales, and till the 
daw^n of day, shed a frightful glare upon our march. 
Beyond Toporovo, the road of Pologhi, which we 
had followed when we came from Smolensko to I)o- 
roghoboui, was on our left. The snow, that covered 
all the country, had nearly buried the villages, which 
formed from afar only a black spot on one boundless 
surface of white. The difficulty of approaching them 
saved many from the general desolation. When I 
compared these peaceful asylums with the torments 
to w^hich we were a prey, I could not refrain from 
exclaiming, "^ Happy people ! exempt from ambi- 
tion, you live tranquil and undisturbed, while we are 
fast sinking under the most frightful calamities. The 
winter preserves your existence, but it devotes us to 
death. When the sweet spring shall have accom-= 
plished your deliverance, you will see our carcases 
bleaching on the plain, and you will be doubly happy 
|n having suffered so little from our tyranny, and iq 



KRASNOE. 269 

having added nothing to the weight of our misfor- 
tunes.' 

The little river Khmost was frozen when we cross- 
ed it, and the bridge, which was yet entire, enabled 
us to pass on without delay or danger. Arriving at 
Wolodimerowa, the viceroy established himself in a 
chateau a little above the village, where he had lodg- 
ed on our former march. Encamping around him, 
we were certain that the cossacks, who had flanked 
our route during the day, would halt on a height not 
far distant from us, and accordingly they soon drove 
in our foragers, who, urged by imperious necessity, 
had spread themselves through the neighbouring vil- 
lages in search of food. 

(November 13th.) We were now only one day's 
march from Smolensko, where abundance would 
succeed to want, and repose to fatigue. Impatient 
to enjoy a happiness so long desired, we left Wolodi- 
merowa long before day, burning, as was our custom, 
the cottages Avhich had afforded us an asylum. Ar- 
rived at the heights of Stabna, where the road of 
Dukhovchtchina joins with that of Witepsk, we ex- 
perienced an almost insuperable difficulty in ascend- 
ing the mountain. Wherever we attempted to climb 
it, we found one solid mass of ice, bright, and slip- 
pery as glass. Men and horses rolled over one an- 
other; and happy were they who, after the utmost 
exertion, could extricate themselves from the dread- 
ful pass. 

Before we arrived at Smolensko, where all our 
misfortunes were to terminate, the most melancholy 



270 KKASNOE. 

scenes presented themselves every instant, and in- 
creased our eagerness to reach that city, the object of 
our most ardent prayers. Among the sports of cruel 
fortune, none had more cause to complain than the 
French women, who, folJowins; us from Moscow to 
escape the vengeance of the Russians, hoped to find 
with us certain protection. Most of them on foot, 
with shoes of stuff, little calculated to defend them 
from the frozen snow, and clad in old robes of silk, 
or the thinnest muslin, were glad to cover them- 
selves with tattered pieces of military cloaks, toin 
from the dead bodies of the soldiers. Their situation 
would have drawn tears from the hardest hearts, if 
dire necessity had not stifled, in every bosom, the 
feelings of humanity. 

Of all the victiins of the horrors of war, no one 
inspired warmer pity than the young and interesting 
Fanny. Beautiful, aflectionaie, amiable, and spright- 
ly, speaking many different languages, and possess- 
ing every quality calculated to seduce the most in- 
sensible heart, she now begged for the most menial 
employment ; and the morsel of bread which she ob- 
tained i\rew from her rapturous expressions of grati- 
tude. Imploring succour from us all, she was com- 
pelled to submit to the vilest abuse ; and though her 
soul loathed the prostitution, she every night belong- 
ed to him who would charge himself with her sup- 
port. I saw her when we quitted Smolensko. She 
was no longer able to walk. She was clinging to the 
tail of a horse, and was thus dragged along. At 
length her powers were quite exhausted. She fell 



KRASNOE. 271 

onthesnow, and there remained unburied, without 
exciting one emotion of compassion, or obtaining one 
look of pity ; so debased were our souls now become, 
and our sensibility quite extinguished. But what 
need of more testimonies of the calamities which 
befel us ; we were all fellow-sufferers. 

It was horrible to see and to hear the enormous 
dogs, with shaggy hair, which, driven from the villa- 
ges that we had burned, followed us along our march. 
Dying with hunger, they uttered one incessant and 
frightful howl, and often disputed with the soldiers 
the carcases of the horses which fell on our route. 
In addition to this, the ravens, with which Russia 
abounds, attracted by the scent of the dead bodies, 
hovered over us in black and innumerable crowds, 
and by their cries of mournful presage, struck the 
stoutest hearts with terror. 

Happily we were only two leagues from Smo- 
lensko, and the tower of its celebrated church, which 
we already saw at a distance, flattering us with the 
sweetest illusions, seemed the most lovely object in 
the whole perspective. An hour before we arrived, 
we left the fourteenth division, with the few Bavarian 
horse which remained, to observe and hold in check 
the Cossacks, who, increasing in numbers every mo- 
ment, seemed determined to follow us to the very 
walls of Smolensko. But what was our grief, when 
we learned, in the very suburbs of the city, that the 
ninth corps was gone, that it had not even halted at 
Smolensko, and that the provisions were all consum- 
ed! A thunderbolt falling at our feet would have 



272 KRASNOE. 

confounded us less than did this news. Our senses 
were for a moment suspended. We would not be* 
lieve the fact ; but our eyes soon gave us sad confir- 
mation of the truth, when we saw the garrison of 
Smolensko eagerly rushing out, and immediately de- 
vouring the horses which every moment dropped, 
exhausted with fatigue and hunger. We then no 
longer doubted that famine reigned in that cityj 
which, till this moment, we had regarded as the abode 
of plenty. 

As we were musing on the sadness of our lot, 
its rigour was somewhat alleviated by the promise of 
a little rice, flour, and biscuit, which yet remained in 
the magazines. The hope of this reanimated our 
drooping courage, when suddenly we were filled with 
new consternation. We had scarcely arrived with- 
in the gates of Smolensko, when crowds of strag- 
glers covered w-ith blood, rushed upon us, and an- 
nounced that the cossacks were only two hundred 
paces distant. The next moment, captain Tresel, 
aid-de-camp to general Guilleminot, who had been 
left behind with the fourteenth division, came at full 
speed. He apprised us that that division had taken 
up a position in a chateau^ in a wood which com- 
manded the road ; that the enemy had surrounded 
it, but that being perfectly intrenched round the cha- 
leauy and the approaches being defended by pallt- 
sades, the cossacks, despaired of attacking them with 
success, and retired to fall upon the stragglers ; that 
they had speedily overtaken these unhappy beings, 
had massacred some, and wounded a sreat number. 



KRASWOE, 273 

The road was covered with these miserable wretch- 
es, and presented a spectacle well calculated to ex- 
cite our liveliest compassion. We saw them, more- 
over, at a distance, descending the mountain of Smo~ 
lensko. The declivity was so rapid, and the frost 
had rendered it so slippery, that numbers of these 
unfortunate beings, unable to support themselves, 
rolled down the declivity, and immediately perislied. 

Having left the royal guard on this height, to pro- 
tect the division of Broussier, which formed the rear- 
guard, we descended towards the Nieper, and endea- 
voured to enter the city. Beyond the bridge was 
the junction of the road of Doroghoboui, with that 
from Valentina, which all the other divisions had tak- 
en ; and as these corps had not passed the Wop, they 
yet retained a great part of their artillery and bag- 
gpoi:e. The numerous carriages, which flocked in on 
every side, mingled with the foot soldiers and the 
cavalry ; and all of them attempting to rush into Smo- 
lensko, where they had been promised some rationsof 
bread, the greatest confusion ensued. The entrance 
was completely choaked up, and more than three 
hours elapsed ere we could penetrate into the city, 

(November 13.) The wind was tempestuous, and 
the cold excessive. We were assured that the ther- 
mometer was more than twenty-two degrees below 
the freezing point. Notwithstanding this, every one 
ran into the streets, hoping that he might be able to 
pcrrhase provisions. Smolensko was built on the 
side of a mountain, and the ascent was so slippery, 



274 KRASNCTE, 

that it was necessary to eravvl on our kness, and to 
hold by the rocks which projected above the snow, m 
order to gain the sunimit. We at length reached the 
top, where we found the great square, and those hou- 
ses which had suffered least from the conflagration. 
Although the w^eather was insupportably severe, we 
sought rather for food than for lodging. Some sol- 
diers of the garrison, to whom a little bread had been 
distributed, were compelled by force to sell it to us. 
Others immediately entreated those who had bought 
it, to spare it, and soldiers and officers mingled to- 
gether, were ravenously devouring in the streets, 
every kind of provision which they could procurey 
however coarse or disgusting. In the meantime the 
eossacks arrived. We distinctly perceived them 
scouring the heights, and firing on the troops which 
defiled below the town. Our fourth division being 
actively engaged with them, the viceroy was eager 
to transport himself to that point. He was accom- 
panied, along a difficult and perilous road, by general 
Gifflenge, and by his aids-de-camp, Tacher, Labedo- 
yere and Mejean, and by Corner, officer of artillery, 
all indefatigable in misfortune, and always ready to 
brave the greatest dangers. 

We had great difficulty in finding shelter, for the 
houses were few, and the crowd, which was to occu- 
py them immense. At length, heaped one upon 
another in the great halls whose arches had defied 
the flames, we waited with impatience for the distri- 
bution of the bread. But the formalities necessary 
to be gone through were so long, that night came on 



ilRASNOE. 275 

€re any thing was delivered. It was now necessary 
to nm anew into the streets, and with money in our 
hands, seek in the quarters of the imperial guard for 
something to support our existence. They, more 
favoured than the rest of the army, often rolled in 
abundance, when we were destitute of every comfort. 
Thus, Smolensko, which we had thought would 
have been the termination of our misfortunes, cruelly 
deceived our dearest hopes, and became the witness of 
our greatest disgrace, and our most profound despair. 
The soldiers, who could not find a shelter, encamp- 
ed in the middle of the streets, and some hours af- 
ter, were found dead around the fires which they had ' 
kindled. The hospitals, the churches, and the other 
public buildings, were unable to contain the sick, 
who presented themselves by thousands. These un- 
happy beings, exposed to all the rigours of a frosty 
night, lay uncovered on the waggons, or in the am- 
munition-carts, or perished in vainly searching for an 
asylum. In fine, when every thing had been promis- 
ed us at Smolensko, nothing had been provided to 
enable us to maintain ourselves there ; nothing had 
been prepared to relieve and comfort an army whose 
salvation depended on that place alone. H( jice de- 
spair seized upon us. We thought only how to 
save our wretched existence. Honour and duty ^vere 
forgotten, or rather, we were no longer disposed to 
submit to the commands of a rash sovereign, ;vho 
troubled not himself to provide bread for those who 
had sacrificed their lives to gratify his ambition. 



276 KRASNOE, 

We saw those who were once the j^ayest, and the 
most intrepid, entirely lose that character. They 
predicted only disasters and dangers.* One thought 
occupied their minds — that country which they were 
never again to see. One object filled their view — 
that death which every moment threatened them. 
With a mournful presentiment, each inquired trem- 
blingly, and with the most profound mystery, where 
were the armies to which we looked for deliverance ? 

* Where is the duke of Reggio ?' one secretly asked 
his companion, — * He wished to have protected the 
Dwina, but he was forced to abandon Polotsk, and to 
fall back upon Lessel,' was the whispered reply. — 

* And where is the duke of Bell u no ?' — * He could 
not leave Sienna.' — * And where the Russian army 
of Wolhynia ?'— * It has repulsed prince Schwartzen^ 
berg ; it has made itself master of Minsk, and it is 
advancing against us.' — * Ah ! if this news be true,' 
repeated the first to himself, ' our situation is truly 
desperate ; and one great battle, on the borders of 
the Nieper or the Beresina, will complete our ruin.' 

Reflections, if possible, yet more depressing oc- 
cupied and tormented us, when a confused murmur 
spread the report that the whole of France was agir- 
tated j that the town of Nantes had been destroyed, 
and that Paris, where, during nearly twenty years, 
the fate of Europe had been decided, was also in a 
state of commotion, which made us tremble for the 
fate of our beloved country ! We were informed that 

* See the twenty-ninth bulletin. 



KRASNOE. 277 

certain men, known for their love of democracy, had 
conceived the project of spreading a false report of 
the death of Napoleon, and the entire destruction of 
his army; and that profiting by the grief and con- 
sternation which this news would occasion it was 
their intention to overthrow the existing authorities, 
and to erect a government which would be subservi- 
ent to their views. If this design had been conceived 
by honest and patriotic men, who, emulous to render 
themselves illustrious by the deliverance of their coun- 
try, sought only to dethrone the emperor, that they 
might preserve the French people from the disgrace 
of hereafter owing their freedom to those whom they 
called their enemies, certainly such a project would 
have been truly heroic. But, instead of an enterprise 
so noble, we were told that the conspirators wished to 
deliver us from despotism, that they might plunge 
us into the horrors of anarchy. Far from wishinsf 
success to such a scheme, we rejoiced when we were 
aftrrwards informed, that our country was not again 
delivered over to the fury of the different factions, for 
the political perfidy of our oppressor had caused Ihe 
fate of the people to depend solely on his safety. By 
his monstrous Machiaveli'm, France was at war with 
the whole human race, that the preservation of France 
might be connected with that of his ovvh person. 

As we lay under some wretched thatch, and in- 
dulged in many a melancholy reflection, wv, wt^re sud-, 
denly roused by unexpected cries. ' Kise, rise ; they 
pillage the magazines.' Springing immeaiately on 



278 , KRASNOE. 

our feet, and seizing a sack, a pannier, or a bottle, we 
exclaimed to each other, as v\ e rushed out, * I will 
go to the flour magazine, you go to the magazine of 
brandy ; let the servants run to the place where the 
meat, the biscuit, the pease, are kept.* In an instant 
the roonl was empty. Afler^a considerable interval 
our friends returned, and informed us, that the sol- 
diers, dying with hunger, and no longer able to await 
the dilatory distribution of the provisions, had, in 
spite of the guard, forced the gates of the magazines, 
and begun to pillage them. Some came back with 
their clothes covered with flour, and even pierced 
v;iih the bayonet, bearing on their shoulders sacks of 
flour which they had taken by force from the sol- 
diers who were dividing it. Others entered, haras- 
sed with fatigue, and deposited on the table a great 
pannier of biscuit, or what was better, an enormous 
leg of beef. An hour after, the domestics followed 
them bringing rice, pease, and brandy. At the un- 
expected view of such abundance, our hearts once 
more expandecL One laughed with joy, as he knead- 
ed his bresd .; another sung as he cooked his meat j 
but most of them eagerly seizing the brandy, quickly 
caused the wildest gdijeiy to succeed to the most dis- 
tressing sadness. 

Although the weather was beautifully clear, the 
air was so exceedingly piercing, that it froze us as 
we passed the streets. At every step were seen the 
dead bodies of the soldiers, stretched on the snow, 
who, harassed by fatigue, had perished of cold as 
they were searching for a place of repose. All these 



KRASNOE. 27S 

disasters, and especially our stay at Smoleosko, re- 
mind me of the death of colonel Battaglia, comman- 
dant of the guard of honour of Italy. I have long 
reproached myself with not having interested the 
feelings of my readers, by recounting the misfortunes 
of that distinguished corps. The rapidity of my 
narration has hitherto prevented me from occupying 
myself with the calamities of individuals, while I 
was oppressed and overpowered by the recollection 
of those which were endured by the whole army. At 
this epoch, that corps was completely annihilated ; 
and ere I quit the fatal walls of Smolensko, I will 
succinctly recount its history. 

It was composed of young men selected from 
the first families in Ital v, and whose parents allowed 
them a pension of twelve hundred francs, when they 
entered the corps. It was an honour to be admitted 
into the regiment, as its very name testified. It was 
not rare to find, among these young men, the most 
brilliant talents, united to the most affluent fortune. 
Many of them were the only sons of illustrious fami- 
lies. To the titles which ibey derived from their an- 
cestors, they added a well-cultivated understanding, 
and every quality which promised ultimately to form 
the most distinguished military characters. In thig 
school were educated the best informed and the most 
excellent officers of the Italian army. They acquir- 
ed experience in submitting to the rules of their 
corps, which, while it gave them the rank of sub- 
lieutenants, obliged them to perform the service of 
private soldiers. 



280 KRASKOl. 

This corps conducted itself well on etery occa-' 
sion, and was remarkable for its fine appearance and 
strict discipline, but it suffered more than any other, 
by the privations attendant on this memorable cam- 
paign. The guards of honour, unused to shoe their 
horses, or to mend their garments or their boots, 
w^ere obliged to submit to these degradations, when 
ihe artificers and domestics attached to their regi- 
ment were no more. Having lost all their horses, and 
wearing enormous and heavy boots, they were un- 
able long to support the fatigue of our continual 
marches. Confounded with the stragglers, they re- 
mained in the rear, without food and without lodg- 
ing. In this manner the decendants of the noblest 
families, born to the happiest destines, perished far 
more miserably than the common soldiers ; for their 
education and their habits ill-disposed them to sub- 
mit to the menial offices by which others gained a 
scanty morsel, and prolonged a wretched life. Some 
of them were seen wrapped in the tattered fragments 
of their cloaks ; others, mounted on sorry cognias,* 
suddenly fainted from weakness and want, and fell 
to rise no more. Out of the three hundred and 
fifty, of which they were originally composed, all, 
except five, perished in the most deplorable manner. 
Ttjey had, however, this consolation, that they pos- 
sessed the esteem of the prince, who formed them at 
first, and who now sighed over the calamities which 

* Cognia, in the Polish language, signifies a horse ; and as the hor- 
-■es of Russia are very small. . they distinguished ours by the name of 

Clean iar. 



KRASNOE* 



281 



the fatal circumstances of the campaign would not 
permit him to alleviate. 

(November 14.) The emperor, who was at Smo- 
lensk© when we arrived there, received every day 
disastrous news of his armies. That which most 
aftected hijn, was the defeat of general Baraguey 
DTliiliers, sent on the road of Kaluga, with general 
Augereau, to oppose count Orloff DenisofT, who 
threatened to cut off our retreat between Smolensko 
and Krasnoe. At a loss how to repair so many dis- 
graces. Napoleon, on that day, and for the first time, 
held a grand council, at which all the generals of di- 
vision and marshals of the empire assisted. As soon 
as the council was broken up, he burned part of his 
equipage, and immediately departed in his carriage, 
accompanied by his chasseurs, and by the Polish 
lancers of the guard. It was reported, at the close 
of the council, that we were to march to-morrow 
with the first corps, and that the third was to remain 
behind to blow up the fortifications of the town, and 
to form our rear guard. The ^A me day, the viceroy 
was long closeted with the chief of his staff, and 
we awaited with anxiety the result of all these con- 
ferences. 

(November 15.) The order was given to con- 
tinue our march, but at a very late hour, from the 
delay occasioned by the dilatory distribution of the 
whole contents of the magazines. The Russian wo- 
men, whose sufferings only added to our misfortunes, 
were left at Smolensko. Dreadful situation ! since 
36 



282 s KRASNOE 

these unfortunate beings well knew that the remains 
of the city would be sacked, the houses delivered to 
the flames, and the churches undermined. We soon, 
however, heard that tlie Hetman PlatotF, entering un- 
expectedly, into the town, had prevented our rear- 
guard from executing the inhUnian order. 

Marching from Smolensko, a: spectacle the most 
horrible was presented to our view. From that point 
till we arrived at a wretched ruined hamlet,* at the 
distance of about three leagues, the road was entirely 
covered with cannon and ammunition- waggons, 
which they had scarce time to spike, or to blow up. 
Horses in the agonies of death were seen at eve- 
ry step, and sometimes whole teams, sinking Under 
their labours, fell together. All the defiles which the 
carriages could not pass, were filled with muskets, 
helmets, and breast plates. Trunks broken open, 
portmanteaus torn to pieces, and garments of every 
kind were scattered over the valley. At every little 
distance we met with trees, at the foot of which the 
soldiers had attempted to light a fire, but the poor 
wretches had perished ere they could accomplish 
their object. We saw them stretched by dozens 
around the green branches which they had vainly 
endeavoured to kindle ; and so numerous were the 
bodies, that they would have obstructed the road had 
not the soldiers been often employed in throwing 
them into the ditches and the ruts. 

^ On inspecting the mag^ this appears to be Loubna. 



KRASNOE. 283 

These horrors, far from exciting our sensibility, 
only hardened our hearts. Our cruelty, which could 
no more be exercised on the enemy, Avas extended 
to our companions. The best friends no longer re- 
cognised each other Whoever discovered the least 
sickness, if he had not good horses and faithful ser- 
vants, was sure never to see his country again. 
Every one preferred to save the plunder of Moscow, 
rather than the life of his comrade. On all sides we 
heard the groans of the dying, and the lamentable 
cries of those wihom we had abandoned. But every 
one was deaf to their supplications, or, if he ap- 
proached those who were on the point of expiring, 
it was to plunder, not to assist them ; it was to search 
whether they had any remains of food, and not to 
afford them relief. 

Arrived at Loubna, we were able to save only 
two miserable barns from destruction — one for the 
viceroy, and the other forhis staff. We had scarcely 
established ourselves there, when we heard a loud 
cannonade in our front. As the noise appeared to 
come from our right, some thought that it was an 
engagement with the ninth corps, which, not having 
been able to relieve Witepsk, was obliged to retreat 
before a superior for^e ; but Ihey who were best 
acquainted with the country, believed that it was the 
emperor and his guard, who had been attacked by 
prince Kutusoff, before his arrival at Krasnoe. That 
prince had marched from Elnia, and passed our army 
while we halted at Smolensko. 



284 KI^ASNOE. 

We can scarcely imagine a picture more deplo° 
rable than the bivouac of the staff'. Twenty-one of- 
ficers, confounded with as many servants, had crept 
together round a littie tire, under an execrable cart- 
house scarcely covered. Behind them were the 
horses, ranged in a circle, that they might be some 
defence against the violence of the wind, which blew 
with fury. The smoke was so thick that we could 
scarcely see the figures of those who were close to 
the fire, and who were employed in blowing the coals 
on which they cooked their food. The rest wrapped 
in their pelisses or their cloaks, lay one upon another, 
as some protection from the cold ; nor did they stir, 
except to abuse those who trod upon them as they 
passed, or to rail at the horses, which kicked when- 
ever a spark fell on their coats. 

(November i6.) We recommenced our march 
before the daw^n of day, and the road was again cov- 
ered with the^ wrecks of our baggage and artillery. 
The horses could no longer draw, and we were obli- 
ged to abandon our cannon at the foot of the slightest 
hill. The only duty which then remained to the artil- 
lery-men, was to scatter the pow^der of the cartriges, 
and to spike the pieces, lest the enemy should turn 
them against us, We were reduced to this extre- 
mity when, at the distance of two hours' march froni 
Krasnoe, the generals Poitevin and Guyon, who 
^vere in the van-guard, saw a Russian officer coming 
towards them, followed by a trumpeter, w-ho an- 
nounced that a herald was advancing. Surprised at 
an appearance so unexpected, general Guy on halted 



KRASNOE. 285 

and permitting the officer to approach, demanded 
whence he came, and what was the object of his mis- 
sion. * I come,' said he, ' from general Milora- 
dowitcli, to tell you, that yesterday we beat JNapo- 
leon, with the imperial guard ; and that to-day the 
viceroy is surrounded by an army of twenty thousand 
men. He cannot escape us, and if he will surrender, 
we offer him honourable terms.' To this, general 
Guyon replied with indignation, * Return quickly 
whence you came, and announce to those who sent you, 
that if you have twenty thousand men, we have here 
four times twenty thousand.' These words, uttered 
with a confident air, so confounded the herald, that 
he immediately returned to the camp of the enemy. 
While this was going on, the viceroy arrived, and 
listened to the intelligence with niingled surprise and 
indignation. Although his corps was so dreadfully 
weakened, and he probably had some knowledge of 
the serious affair which had taken place on the day 
befoie, between the advanced guard of Kutusoff and 
the imperial guard, jet, reflecting on the boasting 
manner in which this had been related, he conceived 
the hope, that, by forcing a passage, he might in a 
short time rejoin the emperor. He was likewise fully 
determined to fall honourably in the field, rather than 
accept of conditions incompatible with his fame. He 
immediately ordered the fourteenth division to front 
the enemy, carrying with them the only two pieces of 
cannon which remained ; then calling general Guille- 
minot, he conferred with him for a long time, and the 
result of their conference was, that it was absolutely 



necessary to force our way through the enemy. Tm 
the mean time our troops had marched on, and the 
Russians, permitting them to advance to the very foot 
of the hill on which they were encamped, suddenly 
unmasked tlieti' batteries, and directed them on their 
squares. Their cavalry soon after descending from 
their position, completed the destruction of our 
troops, and captured their cannon, of which they 
had made but few discharges, through want of am- 
munition. 

General Ornano advanced across the fire of the 
€nemy, with the remains of the thirteenth division, 
to succour the troops of the fourteenth, which were 
so civuelly beaten, when a cannon-ball passed so near 
him that he fell from his horse. The soldiers thought 
that he was dead, and ran forward to plunder him, 
when they perceived that he was only stunned by the 
violence of the fall. The prince then sent his aid- 
de-camp, colonel Delfanti, to endeavour to reani- 
mate the troops. That brave officer, rushing forward 
amidst a shower of balls and grape-shot, encouraged 
ids soldiers by his exhortations and by his example ; 
ivhen receiving two dangerous wounds, he was com- 
pelled to retire from th^ ranks. A surgeon having 
applied a slight dressing, he returned with difficulty 
from the field of battle. On his way he met Mon- 
sieur de Villeblanche, who in the capacity of audi- 
tor of the council of state, had quitted the town of 
Smolensko, of which he was the intendant, with ge- 
oeral Charpentier, who was the governor. Uufortu- 
sately he had obtained leave of the viceroy to ac- 



JKRASNOE. 28'? 

connpany him. This generous young man, perceiv- 
ing colonel Delfanti wounded, and leaning on an 
officer, listened to the dictates of his sensibility and 
offered him his arm also. As al! three were slowly 
retiring from the field, a cannon ball struck the colo- 
nel between the shoulders, and carried off the head of 
the brave Villeblanche. Thus perished two young 
men, who, in different professions, had proved their 
talents and their courage. The first fell a victim to 
his bravery — the other to his humanity. The prince, 
deeply affected by this unhappy catastrophe, showed 
the regard which he felt for the memory of colonel 
Delfanti, by an act of benevolence towards the au- 
thor of his being ; and he would have afforded the 
same consolation to the father of Villeblanche, if the 
death of his only son had not shortly brought him to 
his grave. 

Many officers of distinguished merit perished on 
that bloody day. We particularly regretted major 
d'Oreille, whose intrepidity was so well known, and 
the captain of engineers, Morlin<:ourt, whose mo- 
desty was equal to his talents. The cannonade yet 
continued, and carried destruction through all our 
ranks. The field of battle was covered with the dead 
and the dying. Great numbers of the wounded, 
abandoning their regiments, took refuge in the rear, 
and increased the crowd of stragglers. The firing, 
which had proved fatal to our first ranks, extended 
its ravages to the rear of our army, where the dis- 
mounted officers were stationed. The captains Bor- 
doni and Mastini perished there. They canstituted 



^88 liRASNOE. 

a part of the small number of the Italian guards wha 
yet survived. 

The viceroy, seeing the obstinacy witli which the 
enemy disputed our passage, feigned, by a skilful 
movement, to prolong the engagement on our left, by 
rallying and reuniting all that remained of the four- 
teenth division ; and, while the enemy concentrated 
the greater part of his forces on this point, to sur- 
round and cut otF these troops, the prince took ad-' 
vantage of the close of the day to tile oti to the right 
with the royal guard, which had not been engaged. 
Colonel Kliski gave a remarkable proof of presence 
of mind in that march. He was familiar with the 
Russian language, and marched in the van-guard of 
the column. Suddenly he was stopped by a scout 
of the enemy, who cried in Russian, * Who goes 
there V That intrepid officer, not at all embarrassed 
hy a rencontre so unfortunate, advanced towards the 
centinel, and said to him in his own language, * Hold 
your tongue, scoundrel, don't you see that we belong 
to the corps of Ouwarow, and that we are going on 
a secret expedition !' At these words the soldier 
was silent, and suffered us 1o pass under the protec- 
tion of the night, without giving the alarm. 

The whole army thus escaped the vigilance of 
the enemy, with the exception of the fifteenth divi- 
sion, which, forming the rear-guard, was placed un- 
der the connnand of general Triaire, with orders to 
march as soon as the prince had effected his manoeu- 
yre. While this division rested on its arms, it be- 
held, with griefs the destruction which spread among 



ERASNOEi 289 

the stragglers who were left in the t-ear. They like- 
wise waited for night to continue their route ; but, 
when harassed by fatigue, they found themselves 
warm and comfortable round a blazing fire, many of 
them would not proceed until the return of day. 
Thus they perished, the victims of their own apathy. 
The fifteenth division soon filed off in the utmost si- 
lence, regarding those whom they left behind as the 
destined prey of the cossacks. 

It was necessary to pass the enemy during a night, 
which, instead of protecting us by its obscurity, sud- 
denly presented a beautiful unclouded moon. The 
snow, covering the surface of the ground, rendered 
our march more conspicuous, and it was not without 
torror that we saw ourselves flanked by clouds of cos- 
sacks, who continually approached close to us, as if 
to reconnoitre, and then returned to the squadrons 
from which they had been detached. We often 
thought that they were about to charge us, but gen- 
eral Triaire, halting his column, presented a front 
so imposing, that they did not dare to attack us. At 
length in spite of the ravines, and the mountains of 
snow that obstructed our passage, we reached the 
great road, and half an hour afterwards, effected a 
junction with the young guard, which encamped near 
a river half a league from Krasnoe. There we found 
the emperor, and there consequently, our fears were 
dissipated. 

Recounting to the soldiers of the guard the com- 
bat which we had sustained, they informed us, that. 



290 KRAS^OE, 

they likewise had been ohlii^ed to cut their way 
through the enemy. Napoleon was exposed to the 
most imminent danajer in this en^asjement, and wa& 
indebted for his safety to the bravery of iiis troops^ 
We were told that the band of the guard, rejoining 
him, after having been separated from him in the heat 
of the battle, iinsriediately struck up the air, ' Where 
(?an we be happier than in the bosom of our familv/ 
Eut as this might have a double meaning in the midst 
of frozen deserts, he understood it in the worst sensey 
and said to the musi'^'ians, in a rough tone of voice, 
•^ You had much better play, " Let us awake and 
save the empire.'*' 

The staff of the emperor, his guard, his cavaby, 
and the fourth corps, forming a junction in this little 
town, so completely filled it, that it was scarcely pos- 
sible to move. The streets were thronged with sol- 
diers lying round their fires, which they could only 
keep up by demolishing the houses that were built 
with wood, and burningttie doors and window-frames 
of the others. 

The viceroy was well received at the quarters of 
the emperor, in spite of the ill humour which he felt 
in consequence of the late disgraces, to which he had 
been unaccustomed. He highly approved of the stra- 
tagem that had been employed to deceive the enemy. 
The prince remaining all night in conference, his suite 
encamped in the streets, until Napoleon and the vice- 
roy, placing themselves at the head of the guard, 
marched on the position which the Russians occupi- 
ed, to succour the first and third corps, who were in 



KRASNGE. 2,91 

the same perilous situation, in which we had been 
placed on the preceding eveninsj. 

A new engas^ement commenced. The action was 
obstinate and bloody, and it was only by the great- 
est sacrifices, that we were enabled to save the few 
soldiers who were on their march to join us. The third 
corps was entirely dispersed, and there remained with 
the duke of Elchingen, onlv two or three thousand 
men, who had escaped from the enemy by passing the 
I\ieper. Twenty-five pieces of cannon, and many 
thousands of prisoners, were the fruits which the 
Russians reaped from four successive battles, iq 
which we had nothing to oppose against a complete 
army, but some miserable soldiers, harassed by con- 
tinual marches, and who during more than a month, 
had been without food, without ammunition, and 
without artillery. 

To reward the bravery of the Russian imperial 
guard, who had distinguished themselves in these 
different engagements, prince Kutusoff permitted 
them to carry all the trophies of victory from the 
field of battle to their camp. Among these, was the 
baton of the marshal prince of Eckmuhl.* But that 
baton, used by our marshals on days of ceremony 
alone, added no glory to the enemy, for they found 
it, doubtless, in a baggage-v^aggon that had been 
abandoned. 

The Russians have divided our retreat into three 
principal epochs, which, besides the constant increase 

* See the official report of our retreat, published by the Russians at 
Wilna, December 22, 1812. 



292 KRASNOE. 

of our misfortunes, have each a peculiar character. 
The first ended at the battle of Krasnoe, the second 
at the passage of the Beresina, and the third at Nie- 
men. 

At the conclusion of the first period, to which w6 
are now arrived, they had already taken forty thou- 
sand men, twenty-seven generals, five hundred pieces 
of cannon, thirty-one standards, and, beside our own 
immense baggage, all the plunder of Moscow, that 
we had not destroyed. If, to all these disasters, we 
yet add forty thousand more, dead of fatigue or fa- 
mine, or killed in the ditferent battles, we shall find 
that our army was reduced to thirty thousand, in- 
cluding the imperial guard, of whom not more than 
eight thousand combatants survived. The twenty- 
five pieces of artillery, which the guards had pre- 
served, could not be reckoned, since it was uncer- 
tain whether they would not be obliged to abandon 
them on the morrow. Our cavalry was almost ex- 
tinct. This is the exact statement of the losses 
which we had sustained, at the end of one month's 
march. From this we formed mournful presages of 
what we were yet to endure, since we were scarcely 
half way to the Niemen, and had three rivers to crosS;» 
and two mountains to climbs 



BOOK IX. 



THE BERESINA. 



The dreadful disasters which we had endured 
in our retreat from Moscow to Krasnoe, led us to 
conclude that our misfortunes must have reached 
their utmost height, and that happier events would 
succeed. In fact, the noble position of Orcha be- 
ing guarded by general Jomini we were assured 
that w^e should pass the Nieper without opposition, 
and effect a junction with the corps of general Doni- 
browski, and the dukes of Reggio and Belluno ; 
moreover we were approaching the line of our mag- 
azines, and we should soon enter on an inhabited 
and friendly country. In fine, prince Kutusoff, wish- 
ing to concert his plan of attack with the army of 
Moldavia which was ready to join him, ceased to 
harass us, and reserved for the Beresina, the great 
results which the battle of Krasnoe had promised 
him. 

All these advantages, on which it was said that 
'we might build the surest hopes, imposed on the 
soldiers only for a short time. They who were best 
j^cquainted with the state of affairs, soon dissipated 



294 . BERESINA. 

our ilJiisioiis, by circiilatinof the report that admiral 
Tsihikakoff, coiiiinoj from the Daimbe, had re- 
pulsed near Varsovia, the troops that opposed his 
passage ; that the Austrians had suffered him to take 
Minsk ; and that by seizins^ the bridge of Borisov, 
on the Beresina, the admiral intended to form a 
junction with generals Wittgenstein and Stengel. 
These generals, in fact, being no longer held in 
clieck by the twelfth and sixteenth corps, since the 
battle of Polotsk, had gone, the one on Vileika, to 
attack the Bavarians, and the other towards Tschach- 
niki, to place itself in communication with the army 
of Moldavia. On this junction depended the fate 
of the French army, and it w^as to prevent the most 
dreadful, and the most memorable of all defeats, 
that Napoleon advanced by forced marches on the 
Be re sin a. 

(November 17th.) As soon as the princeof 
Eckmuhl had joined us, and the duke of Elchingen 
bad throW'U himself on the other side of the Nieper, 
we left Krasnoe, about eleven o'clock in the morn- 
ing, and u]arched towards Liadoui. During the 
short repose that w^e had taken at Krasnoe, the cos- 
sacks had passed by that city, and now, ranged in 
column^, followed us, along the road. They did not 
venture to attack the armed soldiers ; but perceiving 
that the small remains of our baggage was stopped, 
and in oreat disorder from the difficulty which the 
horses found in clearing the valley which separated 
the town from a liltle hill, they rushed upon them, 
f?nd plundered them without resistance. We there 



BERESrNA- 295' 

lost the ba^jjagje-waggon of the statf, which contain- 
ed the registers of corresponrlence, and all the 
plans, charts, and memoirs, relative to the cam|)ai8;n. 
Night began to overake us as we entered Liadoui'. 
Above a little river, which we were to cross previ- 
ous to our arrival at Liadoui, was a lofty hill, the 
side of which was so slippery as to render the de- 
scent not a little dangerous. The town offered a 
new aspect to us, for there we first saw inhabitants. 
Although they were Jews, we forgot the filthiness of 
that venal people, and by force of entreaty, or rather 
by force of money, we made them find considerable 
resources, in a town that at first appeared to be ruin- 
ed. Thus that cupidity, the object of our supreme 
contempt in the Jews, was advantageous to us, be- 
cause it made them brave every danger to procure 
us what we demanded. 

Liadoui forming a part of Lithuania, w^e thought 
that it would have been respected, because it belong- 
ed to ancient Poland. We departed before day- 
break on the following morning (November 19,) 
when to our great astonishment, w^e were, as usual, 
lighted by the fire of the houses. That conflagration 
produced one of the most horrible scenes of our 
whole retreat, and my pen would refuse to recount 
it, if the recital of our misfortunss had not for its 
object, and its moral, to render odious that fatal am- 
bition, which forced the most civilized people to 
become barbarians in war. 

Amongst the buildings v/hich were burning, were 
three vast barns, filled with soldiers, most of whom 



296 BERESINA. 

were wt>uiicled. They could not escape frorti the 
two which were behind, without passing through the 
one that was in front, and that was enveloped in 
flames. The most active saved themselves by leap- 
ing out of the windows; but the sick and the wounded 
unable to move, saw, with horrible consternation 
the flames rapidly advancing to devour them^ Moved 
by the cries, with which these unhappy beings rent 
the air, some, w-hose hearts were less hardened than 
others, attempted to save them. Yain effort ! Before 
we could reach them, they were more than half 
buried under the burning rafters. Eagerly did they 
cry to their comrades through the whirlwinds of firej 
to shorten their sufferings by immediately depriving 
them of life. It became the painful duty of humanity 
to comply with their entreaties. *Fire upon us, 
Hre upon us, at the head, at the head ; do not hesi- 
tate,' were the cries which proceeded from every 
part of the building, nor did they cease, till every 
wretched victim was consumed. 

We quickly entered into Doubrowna. That 
town was in a better slate of preservation than any 
through which we had passed in our journey from 
Moscow. It had a Polonese sub-prefect, and a com- 
mandant of the town. The inhabitants were princi* 
pally Jews, who procured us a little flour, brandyy 
and metheglin. They also exchanged the paper 
money of the soldiers for cash. In fine, astonished 
at the confidence of these Israelites, and the honesty 
of our soldiers, v»iio paid for every thing which they 
took, we thought plenty was about to revisit us, and 



BERESINA. 29 1 

that our misfortunes were near Iheir close. Yet we 
were stiu!2^2jlin^ under accumulated evils. * Bread ! 
bread !' was the incessant cry of the feeble remains 
of our once poweifularmy. The followers of the 
camp of every kind, greatly suffered: particularly 
the commissaries and store-keepers, who had been 
little more accustomed to privations. But none were 
more to be pitied than the physicians, and especially 
the surgeons, who, without hope of advancement, 
exposed themsf^lves like the common soldiers, by 
dressing them on the field of battle. While we were 
at Doubrowna, I saw a young surgeon near a house 
which the soldiers surrounded in crowds, because it 
was reported that provisions were to be procured 
there. He was plunged in the profoundest grief, and 
w^ith an eager and anxious countenance, was violent- 
ly endeavouring to force his way into the place. But 
when he was again and again driven back by the 
crowd, he exhibited the wildest despair. I ventured 
to inquire the cause. * Ah, captain !' said he, * I 
am a lost man. For two days I have had no food, 
«nd ascertaining that they sold bread in this house, I 
gave the sentinel six franks to suffer me to enter. 
But while the bread was yet in the oven, the ,Tew 
would not promise to supply me, unless I gave him 
a louis in advance. I consented, but when I came 
back the sentinel was changed, and I was cruelly re- 
pulsed from the door. Ah, sir !' continued he, * I 
am indeed, unfortunate ; I have lost all the money 
^hat I had in the world, and unable to procure a 
38 



298 BERESINA. 

morsel of bread, though I have not tasted any for 
more than a month.' 

At that moment, Napoleon passed by in a close 
chariot filled with furs. He wore, likewise, a pe- 
lisse and bonnet of sable-skin, which prevented him 
from feeling the severity of the weather. On the 
day when we arrived at Doubrovvna, he had marched 
a great part of the way on foot, and, during that march 
he could easily conceive himself to what a miserable 
state his army was reduced, and how much he had 
been deceived by the false reports which some gene- 
rals had made, who, knowing how dangerous it was 
to confess the truth, did not dare to acquaint him 
with the real state of things lest they should incur his 
displeasure. As he had often experienced the won- 
derful effects of his discourse on the soldiers, he once 
more mingled among them, and addressing himself 
angrily to the officers, and familiarly and jestingly to 
the soldiers, he endeavoured to inspire the one with 
fear, and the others with courage. But the time of 
enthusiasm was passed, when one word from him 
would have produced miracles. His tyranny had 
oppressed and- debased us, and stifling within us 
every generous feeling, had deprived him of the only 
means of reanimating our drooping spirits. Napo- 
leon was most affected at seeing his old guard equally 
dispirited and despairing. Wounded to the very 
soul, he assembled a party of them before he quitted 
TJoubrowna, and, placing himself in their centre, re- 
commended the officers to maintain strict discipline, 
and reminded them that thev had always been the 



BERESINA. 299 

pride of his army, and that to their bravery he had 
often been indebted for the most splendid victories. 
But sentiments like these were out of season, and the 
man, who destitute of virtue aspired to the character 
of a hero, now too plainly found, that the grandest 
projects were followed by no glory, when they had 
not some laudable object, and when their execution 
was beyond the scope of human ability. 

(November 19th.) Half an hour after we quitted 
Doubrowna, we passed a very wide and deep ravine 
through which flowed a considerable river. The op- 
posite bank completely commanded that at which 
we had arrived. On seeing this important position, 
we thanked heaven that the Russians had not seized 
upon it to oppose our passage, and this gave us rea- 
son to hope that the village of Orcha was not occu- 
pied by them. In fact, some troops lately arrived 
from France maintained themselves there, and we 
effected a junction with them at two o'clock in the af- 
ternoon, without being harassed by the cossacks. This 
was a new instance of good fortune, for in the disorder 
in which we then were, it would have been impossible 
for us to have forced either of these strong positions. 

These troops had constructed two bridges over the 
Nieper, and as every one rushed on to pass first, 
the crowd was immense, yet fortunately no accident 
occurred. Napoleon arrived at Orcha soon after us, 
and in an instant every house was occupied. The 
Jews, as usual, immediately procured us trifling re- 
freshments, but the number of purchasers was so 
great that all was soon consumed. 



300 BERESINA. 

The more 1 examined the position of Orcha, the 
greater was my astonishment that the Russians had 
not taken possession of it. The town is built on the 
right bank of the Nieper, which rises considerably 
higher than the left. Many projections appear from 
the bank in the form of natural bastions, and perfectly 
command the passage. The river flows immedialely 
beneath, and is about one thousand two hundred 
feet wide, and of immense depth. The most for- 
midable army could not pass it without being eX' 
posed to entire ruin. While we halted upon these 
heights, we heard many discharges of musketry, 
and shortly afterwards, we saw those who had been 
left on the other side retiring with the greatest pre- 
jupitation, and crying as they approached us, * The 
Cossacks, the cossacks.' In fact they soon actually 
appeared, but in numbers so small, that we should 
have been indignant, if those who fled before them 
had not been wretched stragglers, without arms, and 
mostly wounded. 

(November 20th.) On the following day we 
were unmolested, except that we occasionally heard 
some discharges of musketry, directed against the 
cossacks ; but accustomed to see them advance upon 
us, and immediately betake themselves to flight when 
faced by the regular troops, their presence gave us no 
uneasiness. We were thus permitted to taste undis- 
turbed the sweets of one day's repose, and some pro- 
yisionswere distributed amongst us, which general 
Jomini, governor of Orcha, had preserved for the 
passage of the army« They proved the more acceptv 



BERESINA. 301 

able to us, as we had received no rations of bread 
since our retreat from Smolensko, the magazines of 
Krasnoe having been pillaged by the cossacks be- 
fore we arrived.* 

If the day was tranquil, the night was much dis- 
turbed. The duke of Elchingen, who since the 
disastrous day of Krasnoe, had been obliged to aban- 
don the road that we pursued, and seek a safer re- 
treat on the other side of the IS'ieper, had been 
engaged with the enemy during three whole days. 
That march, in which he had recourse to every ma- 
noeuvre that the most extraordinary courage and 
talents could effect, completed his brilliant reputa- 
tion. His valour was seconded by the generous 
movement of the prjnce viceroy, who proceeded by 
forced marches to succour him, and whose assistance 
effected his deliverance. 

(November 21st.) We marched from Orcha at 
the moment that they began to set it on fire. As we 
climbed the mountain to recover the grand road, 
we heard a considerable firing of musketry. It pro- 
ceeded from the soldiers of the first corps, who had 
been left in the town to form the rear guard, and 
who were already engaged with the cossacks. 

During our stay at Orcha, Napoleon, foreseeing 
that he should soon be placed in a most critical situa- 

* I ought to observe, that only the soldiers who were present at the 
roll call, received any distribution, and they did not form a filth part 
of the army ; and there were only three distributions in the space of 
two months, namely, at Smolensko, at Orcha, and at Kowno. 



302 BERESINA. 

tion, made every effort to rally his troops. He caus^ 
eel it to be proclaimed hj sound of trumpet, and by 
three colonels, that every soldier who did not imme- 
diately rejoin his regiment should be punished with 
death ; and that every officer or general, who aban- 
doned his post should be dismissed. But when we 
regained the great road, we perceived what little ef- 
fect this measure had produced. All was in the most 
frightful confusion, and in contempt of this severe 
proclamation, the soldiers, naked and without arms, 
continued to march in the same disorder. 

We encamped at a sorry village on our right, 
where two or three habitations remained, at the dis- 
tance of an hour's march from Kokanovo. The vil- 
lage of Kokanovo, which we passed on the following 
day, w^as entirely ruined ; thej)ost-house, which had 
been inhabited by the staff, alone remained. We 
continued our march along a road which the thaw 
had rendered horribly dirty, when we received or- 
ders not to push forward to Tolotschin, where Na- 
poleon had fixed his quarters, but to halt at a great 
ihateau half a league distant. 

The road of Orcha, as far as Tolotschin, is un- 
doubtedly one of the best in Europe. It forms a per- 
fectly straight line, and is bordered on each side by a 
double row of birch trees, the branches of which, la- 
den with snow and ice, hung down to the ground like 
the weeping willow. But these majestic avenues ex- 
cited in us no admiration. They witnessed only our 
tears and our despair. On every side we heard only 
groans and lamentations. Some feeling that they 



EERESINA. 303 

eould proceed no further, laid themselves on the 
ground, and with tears in their eyes, gave us their 
papers and their money to be conveyed to their fam- 
ilies. ' Ah ! If more fortunate than we,' they ex- 
claimed, * you are permitted to re-visit our dear 
country, give our parents this last pledge of our 
love. Tell them that the hope of seeing them again 
alone sustained us till this day ; and that at length, 
compelled to renounce this pleasing expectation, we 
died thinking of them, and blessing them. Adieu, 
God bless you ! When on your return to our belo- 
ved France, you rejoice in your good fortune, think, 
sometimes of our unhappy fate.' A little further 
on we met others, who, holding in their arms their fa- 
mished children or their wives, implored one morsel 
of bread to preserve their lives. 

In the meantime, Napoleon was informed that the 
army of Wolhynia, joined to that of Moldavia, had 
marched on Minsk (Nov. 16th,) and that it had 
seized on the bridge of Borisov, to cut us off from the 
passage of the Beresina. He also knew, that the ar- 
my of Wittgenstein, reinforced by the division of 
Stengel, sharply pressed the twelfth and sixteenth 
corps, that it might be enabled to march on the Bo- 
risov, and form a jimction with admiral Tschikakoff 
and prince KutusoiF. To oppose the execution of 
a plan which would cojinplete our ruin. Napoleon 
sent general Dombrowski against the army of Wol- 
hynia, hoping also that he might anticipate it, in 
seizing the bridge of Borisov. This general did es- 
tablish him.self there, but be was forced to evaruate 



304 BERESINA, 

his position (Nov. 23d.) The enemy having then 
passed the Beresina, marched upon Bohr, and came 
to meet us. The twelfth corps commanded by the 
duke of Reggio, which was at Tschereia, received 
orders to proceed immediately to the succour of ge- 
neral Dombrowski, and to secure for the army the 
passag^e of the Beresina. On the following day 
(Nov. 24th) he met the division of the Russian gene- 
ral Lambert, four leagues on this side of Borisov. 
He attacked and beat it. At the same time general 
Berkheim made a brilliant charge with the fourth re- 
giment of chasseurs, and forced the enemy to retreat 
to the other bank of the river, after having lost two 
thousand men, six cannon and a quantity of baggage. 
The Russians having destroyed in their flight the 
great bridge of Borisov, defended all the right bank 
of the Beresina, and occupied, with four divisions, 
the principal points where we could possibly attempt 
to pass it. During the 25th, Napoleon manoeuvred 
to deceive the vigilance of the enemy, and, by strata- 
gem, obtained possession of the village of Studzianca, 
placed on an eminence that cammanded the river 
which we wished to pass. There, in the presence 
of the Russians, and notwithstanding their utmost 
opposition, he coristructed two bridges, of which the 
duke of Reggio profited to cross the Beresina ; and 
attacking the troops which opposed his passage, he 
put them to flight, and pursued them, without inter- 
mission, to the head of the bridge of Borisov, Ge- 



BERESINA. 305 

Beral Les^rand, an officer of distinguished merit, was 
wounded in this affair. 

The duke of Belluno, who for some days had 
kept the corps of Wittgenstien in check, having re- 
ceived orders to follow the movements of the duke 
of Regofio, was pursued in his retreat by the Russian 
army of the Dwina, which had then formed a junc- 
tion with prince Kutusoff, near Lochnitza. During 
all these operations, which took place between the 
23d and 27th of November, we passed four dreadful 
days, traversing many villages, among which we 
could only learn the names of Bohr and Kraupki, 
where fatigue compelled us to halt. The days were 
so short, that although we made but little progresSj 
we were obliged to march during part of the night. 
It was from this cause that so many unhappy wretch^ 
es wandered from their regiments, and were lost. 
Arriving very late at the encampments, where all the 
corps were confounded together, they could not dis- 
tinguish or learn the situation of the regiment to 
which they belonged. After having marched the 
whole day, they were often compelled to wander 
about all the night to find their oflftcers, and rarely 
were they sufficiently fortunate to accomplish their 
object ; they then laid themselves down to sleep, ig- 
norant of the hour of march, and on awaking, found 
themselves in the power of the enemy. 

As we passed the Borisov, we saw the division of 

Parthonneaux forming the rear-guard of the ninth 

corps. We then quitted the great road that led to 

the bridge occupied by the Russians, and turned to 

39 



366 BERESINA. 

the right to proceed to Studzianca, where we found 
IVapoleon. The other troops of the ninth corps, 
commanded by the duke of Belluno, arrived like- 
wise by the same road. 

The twelfth and ninth corps and the Poles, com- 
manded by general Dombrowski, not having been at 
Moscow, had so miirh baggage, that from Borisov to 
Studzianca the road was covered with carriages and 
waggons. The reinforcements which these troops 
brought us were very acceptable, yet we almost 
doubted whether the junction of so many men, in the 
centre of a vast desert, might not increase our mis- 
fortunes. Always marching in the midst of a confus- 
ed mass of stragglers, with the divisions of the ninth 
corps, we were two hours afterwards arrested in our 
progress by a great crowd, and unable to penetrate, 
we W' ere compelled to march round it. In the midst 
of this multitude were some paltry barns, on the sum- 
mit of a little hill. Seeing some chasseurs of the im- 
perial guard encamped around it, we judged that 
Napoleon was there, and that we were approaching 
the borders of the Beresina. In fact, it was the very 
spot where Charles XII. crossed that river, on his 
march to Moscow.^^' 

What a frightful picture did this multitude ot 
men present, overwhelmed with misfortunes of every 
kind, and hemmed in by a morass ; that very multi- 
tude which, two months before, had exultingly spread 
itself over half the surface of a vast empire ! Our sol- 

* June 25th, 1708.. 



BERESINA. 307 

diers, pale, emaciated, dying with hunger and cold, 
have nothing to defend them from the inclemency of 
the season, but tattered pelises, and sheep-skins half 
burnt, and uttering the most mournful lamentations, 
^crowded the banks of this unfortunate river. Ger- 
mans, Polanders, Italians, Spaniards, Croats, Portu- 
guese, and French, were all mingled together, disput- 
ing among themselves, and quarrelling with each 
other, in their different languages : — finally, the offi- 
cers, and even the generals, wrapped in pelisses co^ 
vered with dirt and filth, confounded with the sol- 
diers, and abusing those who pressed upon them, or 
braved their authority, formed a scene of strange 
confusion, of which no painter could trace the faint- 
est resemblance. 

They, whom fatigue, or ignorance of the impend- 
ing danger, rendered less eager to cross the river, 
were endeavouring to kindle a fire, and repose their 
wearied limbs. We had, too frequently, occasion to 
observe, in these encampments, to what a degree of 
brutality, excess of misery would debase human na- 
ture. In one place we saw several of the soldiers 
fighting for a^morsel of bread. If a stranger, pierced 
with the cold, endeavoured to approach a fire, those 
to whom it belonged inhiuuanly drove him away ; or, 
if tormented with raging thirst, any one asked for a 
single drop of water from another who carried a full 
supply, the refusal was accompanied by the vilest 
abuse. We often heard those who had once been 
friends, and whose education had been liberal, bit„ 
terly disputing with each other for a little straw, or a 



308 BERESINA. 

piece of horse flesh, which they were attempting to 
divide. This campaign was therefore the more terri- 
ble, as it brutalized the character, and stained us with 
vices to which we had before been strangers. Even 
those who once were honest, humane, and generous, 
became selfish, avaricious, dishonest, and cruel. 

Napoleon having, with the assistance of his guard, 
forced his way through this immense crowd, crossed 
the river (November 27) about three o'clock in the 
afternoon. The viceroy, who had passed the whole 
day with him, announced to his staff, that what remain- 
ed of the fourth corps should pass the bridge at eight 
o'clock at night. Although not a moment should 
have been lost in escaping from a place so dangerous, 
many could not prevail upon themselves to leave the 
fires round which they were sitting. ' It is much 
better,' said they, * to pass the night on this side of 
the river than on the other, where there is nothing but 
marshes ; besides, the bridge is as much encumbered 
as ever, and by waiting till to-morrow, the crowd will 
have lessened, and the passage will be easy.' This 
unfortunate advice prevailed on too many, and at the 
hour appointed, only the household of the prince, 
and a few of the officers of the staff crossed the river. 

It was, indeed, necessary to know all the danger 
that would have attended our stay on the left side of 
the river, to induce us to pass to the other. The 
viceroy and his suite, arriving on the right bank, en- 
camped on a marshy piece of ground, and endeavour- 
ed to find out the places which were most frozen, to 
pass the night on them and escape the bogs. The 



BERESINA. 309 

darkness was horrible, and the wind tremendous, 
blowing a thick shower of ice and snow full in our 
faces. Many of the officers, pierced with the cold, 
did not cease running, and walking, and striking 
their feet, during the whole night, to preserve them- 
selves from being completely frozen. To complete 
our misfortunes, wood was so scarce, that we could 
with difficulty supply one little fire for the viceroy ; 
and to obtain some firebrands, we were obliged to 
appeal to the Bavarian soldiers, the daughter of 
whose king had been united in marriage to prince 
Eugene. 

(November 28th.) Napoleon being gone towards 
Zembin, left behind him this immense crowd, 
which, standing on the other side of the Beresina, 
presented a lively, but frightful picture of the un- 
happy ghosts who are said to wander on the banks 
of the Styx, and press tumultuously towards the 
fatal barge. The snow fell with violence ; the hills 
and forest presented only some white indistinct 
masses, scarcely visible through the fog. We 
could only see distinctly the fatal river, which, half 
frozen, forced its way through the ice that impeded 
its progress. 

Although there were two bridges, one for the 
carriages, and the other for the foot-soldiers, yet the 
crowd was so great, and the approaches so danger- 
ous, that near the Beresina, the passage was com- 
pletely choked up, and it was absolutely impossible 
to move. About eight o'clock in the morning, the 
bridge for the carriages and the cavalry broke down ; 



310 BERESINA. 

the baggage and artillery then advanced towards the 
other bridge, and attempted to force a passage. 
]Vow began a frightful contention between the foot- 
soldiers and the horsemen. Many perished by the 
hands of their comrades, but fi great number were 
suffocated at the head of the brigade ; and the dead 
bodies of men and horses, so choked every avenue, 
that it was necessary to climb over mountains of car- 
casses to arrive at the river. Some, who were buried 
in these horrible heaps, still breathed, and struggling 
wlih the agonies of death, caught hold of those who 
mounted over them ; but these kicked them with vio- 
lence, to disengage themselves, and, without re- 
morse, trod them under foot. During this conten- 
tion, the multitude which followed, like a furious 
wave, sw^pt away^ while it increased the number of 
¥ictims. 

The division of Parthonneaux, which formed the 
rear-guard, having received orders to return, left a 
brigade to burn the bridge. That brigade, setting 
out two hours afterwards to rejoin the first, found it 
no more. Doubtless, it had hastened its retreat, for 
it has now been fully proved, that general Parthon= 
neaux, who had been unjustly accused of abandon- 
ing his troops, received three or four orders in the 
course of the day, which rendered him uncertain 
how to act, and placed him in a very critical situa-, 
lion. Be this as it may, the second brigade lost its 
way, and wandered more than three leagues in a 
wrong direction. In the middle of a dismal night, 
Slid pierced with cold, it mistook the fires of the 



BERESINA. ^ 311 

enemy for ours, and rnv to join us ; when, seeinp^ it- 
self surrounded, and without the least hope of es- 
cape, it was connpelled to surrender. 

Eorisov being evacuated, the three Russian ar- 
mies effected their junction, and the same day 
(November 28th,) about eight o'clock in the morn- 
ing, the duke of Reggio was attacked on the right 
bank, and half an hour afterwards the duke of Bel- 
lu no was engaged on the left. Every soldier, who 
had before been wandering in confusion, fell into the 
ranks. The battle was obstinately fought, and the 
duke of Reggio could only obtain the victory at the 
price of his own blood. He was wounded at the be- 
ginning of the action, and compelled to quit the field. 
The command then devolved on the duke of Ekhin- 
gen. 

In the mean time the enemy, notwithstanding the 
yalour of our soldiers, and the exertions of their 
commanders, briskly pressed the ninth corps, which 
formed the rear-guard. We already heard the roar 
of the cannon, and the sound dismayed every heart. 
Insensibly it approached, and we soon saw the fire of 
the enemy's artillery on the summit of the neighbour- 
ing hills, and we no longer doubted that the engage- 
ment would soon extend to that spot which w'as cov- 
ered with thousands of unarmed men, sick and 
wounded, and with all our women and children. 

The duke of Elchingen, having rallied his troops, 
the battle recommenced with new fury. The divi- 
sion of cuirassiers, commanded by general DoumerCj 
made a very brilliant charo;e, and at the same mo- 



312 BERESlNAo 

rnent the legion of the Vistula was engaged in the 
woods, endeavouring to force the enemy's centre. 
These brave cuirassiers, although enfeebled by fa- 
tigue and privations of every kind, performed prodi- 
gies of valour. They pierced the enemy's squares, 
took several pieces of cannon, and three or four thou- 
sand prisoners, which our weakness would not per- 
mit us to retain : for in our cruel situation we fought 
not for victory, but only for life, and the honour of 
our arms. 

In the heat of the engagement many balls flew 
over the miserable crowd which was yet pressing 
across the bride of the Beresina. Some shells burst 
in the midst of them. Terror and despair then took 
possession of every heart. The women and chil- 
dren, who had escaped so many disasters, seemed to 
have been preserved, only to suffer here a death still 
more deplorable. We saw them rushing from the 
baggage-waggons, and falling in agonies and tears at 
the feet of the first soldier they met, imploring his 
assistance to enable them to reach the other side. 
The sick and the wounded, sitting on the trunks of 
trees, or supported by their crutches, anxiously 
looked around for some friend to help them. But 
their cries were lost in the air, JXo one had leisure 
to attend to his dearest friend. His own preserva- 
tion absorbed every thought. 

Monsieur de Labarriere, the muster-master of the 
fourth corps, was a man of respectable character, and 
engaging manners. His advanced age, and more es- 
pecially bis feeble constitution, had long rendered 



BERESINA. 313 

hmi unable to march, and he was now lying with 
many others on an open sledge. He accidentally 
perceived an officer of his acquaintance, and although 
he was scarcely able to stand, he ran to him, threw 
himself in his arms, and implored his protection. 
The officer was severely wounded, but too generous 
to refuse his feeble help, he promised that he would 
not leave him. These two friends, closely embrac- 
ing each other, slowly proceeded towards the bridge 
animated by tiie consoling thought, that at least they 
would be permitted to die together. They entered 
the crowd ; but, feeble and helpless, they were un- 
able to sustain the intolerable pressure, and were 
seen no more. 

A woman was likewise marching with the equi- 
page of Napoleon, whom her husband had left a little 
way behind, while he went forward to endeavour to 
find a place where they might safely pnss. During 
that time a shell burst near the unfortunate female. 
The crov^d that was around her, immediately took 
to flight. She alone remained. But the enemy soon 
advancing, caused the soldiers to rush back all at 
once to the bridge, and, in their confused march, 
they hurried the poor woman with them, who strove 
in vain to return to the place where her husband had 
left her. BulTeted by the tumultuous waves, she 
saw herself driven from the spot, without the possi- 
bility of return. We heard her from afar, loudly 
calling to her husband, but her piercing voice was 
unattended to, amidst the noise of arms, and the cries 
of the soldiers. At length pale and speechless, she 
40 ' 



314 BERESINA. 

beat her breast in agonv, and fell lifeless at the feet 
of the soldiers, who, attentive to their own escape, 
neither saw nor heard her. 

At length the Russians continually reinforced by 
fresh troops, advanced in a mass, and drove before 
them the Polonese corps of general Girard, which till 
then had held them in check. At the sight of the 
enemy, those who had not already passed, mingled 
Avith the Polanders, and rushed precipitately towards 
the bridge. The artillery, the baggage-waggons, 
the cavalry, and the foot-soldiers, all pressed on, 
contending which should pass the first. The strong- 
est threw into the river those who were weaker, and 
hindered their passage, or unfeelingly trampled un- 
^er foot all the sick whom they found in their way. 
Many hundreds were crushed to death by the wheels 
of the cannon. Others, hoping to save themselves 
by swimming, were frozen in the middle of the river, 
or perished by placing themselves on pieces of ice, 
w^iich sunk to the bottom. Thousands and thou- 
sands of victims, deprived of all hope, thew them- 
selves headlong into the Beresina, and were lost in 
the wsves. 

The division of Girard made its way, by force of 
arms, through all the obstacles that retarded its 
march ; and climbing over that mountain of dead 
bodies which obstructed the way, gained the other 
side. Thither the Russians would soon have fol- 
lowed them, if they had not hastened to burn the 
brids^e. 



BERESINA. 315 

Then tbe unhappy beings who remained on the 
other side of the Beresina abandoned themselves to 
absolute despair. Some of them, however, yet at- 
tempted to pass the bridge, enveloped as it was in 
flames; but, arrested in the midst of their progress, 
they were compelled to throw themselves into the 
river, to escape a death yet more horrible. At 
length the Russians, being masters of the field of 
battle, our troops retired ; the uproar ceased, and a 
mournful silence succeeded. 

As we marched towards Zembin, we re-ascended 
the right bank of the Beresina, whence we could dis- 
tinctly see all that passed on the other side. The 
cold was excessive ; and the wind blew in loud and 
hollow gusts. The obscurity of the night was dis- 
sipated only by the numerous fires of the enemy, 
who occupied the heights. At the foot of these hills 
were our unfortunate companions. Their destruc- 
tion was now inevitable, and, amidst all their former 
disasters, never were they exposed to, nor can ima- 
gination conceive, horrors equal to those which en- 
compassed them during that frightful night. The 
elements let loose, seemed to conspire to afflict uni- 
versal nature, and to chastise the ambition and the 
crimes of man. The conquerors and the conquered, 
were alike overwhelmed with sufferings. Round 
the encampment of the Russians, however, we saw 
enormous masses of burning wood, but on the spot 
which held our devoted companions, there was 
neither light nor shelter. Lamentable cries and 



316 BERESINA, 

groans alone marked the place which contained 
these miserable victims. 

More than twenty thousand sick and wounded 
fell into the power of the enemy. Two hundred pie- 
ces of cannon were abandoned. All the bao;2;age of 
the two corps which had joined us was equally the 
prey of the conquerors ; yet, when we contemplated 
the deplorable fate of the wretched beinsjs who were 
left on the other side of the Beresina, the conscious- 
ness of our safety rendered us insensible to the loss 
of all our riches. They were for ever deprived of 
the hope of revisiting the land that gave them birth; 
and were doomed to pass the sad remnant of their 
days amidst the snows of Siberia, where they would 
water with their tears the black bread which would 
be the only wages of the most humiliating servitude. 

(November 29th.) Setting out on the morrow 
for Zembin, and endeavouring to rejoin what re- 
mained of the fourth corps, we again commiserated 
the fate of the numerous friends who were no longer 
with us. We eagerly embraced those who had re- 
turned, whom we had feared we should never again 
have beheld, and congratulated each other on sur- 
viving a day more terrible than the bloodiest battle. 
We mutually recounted the dangers that we had run, 
and the difficulties with which we had struggled to 
escape with life. * 1 have lost every thing,' said 
one, * servants, horses, baggage ; but I think not of 
it ; I rather esteem myself most fortunate, that I have 
preserved my life, that 1 have escaped from the in- 
|:iemency of the weather, the horrors of famine, and 



BERESINA. 317 

the arms of the enemy.' ' I have nothing but what 
I carry about me,' said a second, ' and of all that I 
had, I only wish for some shoes to defend my feet, 
and some bread to eat : these are the truest riches.' 
*1 have lost all,' exclaimed a third, * but I do not 
regret it, since tlie sacrifice of my baggage has ena- 
bled me to save my wounded brother.' Such was 
the language which we heard, during several succes- 
sive days ; and those who were silent, deeply mused 
on the dangers which they had passed, and rendered 
their secret but fervent thanks to Providence, for a 
preservation almost miraculous. 



BOOK X. 



THE NIEMEN. 



The fatal passage of the Beresina having reduced 
our corps of reserve to the same condition as those 
who had been as far as Moscow, realized the fatal 
predictions, which had long been announced to us ; 
and, with the exceptionof our chief (whose life Pro- 
vidence seems to have continued, only to deliver 
him to greater remorse and despair,) all was ac- 
complished. 

How dreadful was the punishment of this con- 
queror, to lose the provinces which he occupied with 
more rapidity than he had envaded them ; to have 
the melancholy cypress, instead of the laurels of vic- 
tory, and cities smoking with recent slaughter, in- 
stead of the incense of applause ; and, finally, as the 
companions of his triumph, twenty thousand disarm- 
ed soldiers, without linen and without stockings, 
whose only shoes were contrived from their worn-out 
hats, whose shoulders were covered with pieces of 
sacking, and the skins of horses^ newly flayed. 



320 THE NIEMEN. 

These were deplorable remains of five hundred 
thousand brave warriors, who, but for the ambition of 
a single man, would always have been the honour of 
France, and the terror of their enemies, 

(November 29th.) We arrived very early at the 
village of Kamen, and were continuing our route to 
Plescenkovice, when Colaud, commander of the ad- 
vanced-guard, returned, and announced to us that 
two thousand cossacks had entered the city, crying 
' Hourra !' and were massacreing every one whom 
they found in the streets, * The duke of Reggio,* 
said he, ' being wounded last night, was scarcely able 
to reach the place ; but, happily, many officers has- 
tenino- to render him assistance, or to die at his side, 
excited a fear in the enemy that we were contriving 
some ambush. They retired to a neighbouring 
heisrht, and cannonaded the marshal's house, to make 
it capitulate. As if a fatality pursued the duke of 
Keggio, a cannon-ball striking on a beam, broke off 
a splinter, by which he was again slightly wounded.* 
This officer likewise informed us, 'that general Pino 
had been in the same quarters, and that count Dan- 
thouard, on entering into Plescenkovice, had scarce- 
ly time to escape to his carriage.' 

This news determined us to remain at Kamen. 
The next day (30th November) we set out before day 
break, and passing hy Plescenkovice, the accounts 
Vi hich we had received on the preceding evening, 
were confirmed. We saw the house where the duke 
of Reggio had taken up his quarters, and were sur- 
prised that two thousand cossacks hadnot ventured to 



THE l!fIEMEN. 521 

oarry oflfby force, a marshal who was only defended 
by twenty wounded officers. Napoleon halted in 
this city, but the viceroy continuing his route, en» 
camped in a deserted village, near Zavichino, which 
according to the map, was named Niestanovitsch. 

(December 1st.) The following day, about seven 
in the morning, the viceroy, accompanied by a few 
officers, placed himself at the head of some greriadiers 
of the royal guard, who yet remained faithful to their 
colours. After a very long march, for men exhaust- 
ed with fatigue, we arrived at the town of Iliia. The 
Jews, forming the majority of the population, had not 
quitted their houses, and the love of gain induced 
them to bring out some provisions, which they had 
intended to conceal. We paid them liberally, for in 
such a situation the poorest nourishment was prefer- 
able to gold. Without this assistance, we should 
have lost the brave and estimable colonel Durieu, 
whose health had much declined ; less perhaps on 
account of deprivations to which he had been expos- 
ed, than the ardent zeal with which he fulfilled his 
important and laborious duties. 

(December 2d.) The next day, when we march- 
ed upon Molodetschino, was still more fatiguing 
and oppressive. We marched for twelve hours with- 
out halting, through an immense forest. The cold 
was excessive, and the only thing which could afford 
us consolation, was the persuasion, that the cossacks 
would no longer harass our right. Captain .louard, 
who had been sent to Vileika, to generel Wrede, aib- 
41 



322'^ THE NIEMEN. 

sured us that the Bavarians still maintained that im-- 
portant position. 

We were in a pitiable situation when we arrived 
at Molodestehino. Happily the houses were good, 
and some of the proprietors, who still remained, pro- 
cured us the means of subsistence. The next morn- 
ing the equipages of Napoleon began to depart. 
They were scarcely out of the village, when a mul- 
titude of Cossacks presented themselves, and would 
have taken them, if they had not hastily returned to 
place themselves under the protection of the troops, 
who yet retained their arms. The viceroy was pre- 
paring for his departure, when it was announced to 
him that we were to remain at Molodestehino, but 
that he must evacuate the chateau which he occupi- 
ed, for the use of Napoleon, who would soon arrive. 

This repose was the more precious as the ability 
to procure some provisions, by dint af searching for 
them, enabled us to employ it profitably. Neverthe- 
less, many soldiers expired in the streets. The same 
desolation extended to the houses where the officers 
lodged. Some were sick from excessive fatigue, and 
protested that they could go no further; others whose 
feet were frozen, and who had no horses, found them- 
selves obliged, though full of courage, to remain in 
the hands of the Russians. The generals were ex- 
posed to the same calamities, for many of them, havr 
ing lost their servants and their carriages, were un- 
able to replace them. In such circumstances if the 
slightest sickness attacked them, they expired for 
want of assistance. Such was our situation in Mo- 



THE NIEMEN. 323 

lodetschino, when Napoleon wrote in characters of 
blood, the fatal twenty-ninth bulletin, which made 
France and her allies, a large family of momners. 

(December 4th.) We quitted the villaoje, but 
did not take the great road which leads through 
Zachkevitschi, directly to Smor^honi. We kept to 
the left of this rock, which, indeed, promised little 
safety, and pursued a by-road, which conducted us 
by Lebioda to Markovo. We encamped in this vil- 
lage with some soldiers of the first corps, while the 
emperor and his guard were at Bienitsa, about half a 
league from us. 

(December 6th.) Setting out for Smorghoni, 
we crossed some marshy country, which would have 
been absolutely impassable, had it not been ^or the 
rigour of the season. It was therefore evident to us 
that these regions are completely defended by their 
very nature, and that, independent of the rigour of 
winter, the marshes of Lithuania would have been our 
grave. When we arrived at this little town, we did 
not find the resources which we had been promised. 
All the houses were deserted, and the Jews, having 
taken flight, had deprived us of their assistance. We 
found however, in the magazines, some casks of bis- 
cuits, which were immediately devoured. 

Napoleon, terrified by so many disasters, and still' 
more so by the fear of losing his authority in France, 
conceived the idea of abandoning these miserable 
remains of his army, for the purpose of demanding 
from his senate new levies ; and, tortured by that just 
terror which always, pursues the despot, he imagined 



324 THE NIEMEN. 

tbat his allies were ea^er to dissolve the compactj 
which had placed them under his iron yoke. 

Full of this resolution, he felt assured, when he 
arrived at Smorsjhoni, that the road was safe as far 
as the Niemeil, and called together the chiefs of the 
army. Afterwards he had a private conference with 
the viceroy. This being finished, JNapoleon issued 
from his cabinet, followed by the master of the horse, 
the marshal of the palace, and general Lefebre Des- 
nouettes. Crossing one of the halls, h6 met the king 
of Naples, and said to him, with an indifferent air, 
' Adieu, king of Naples P While pronouncing these 
words, he went out, accompanied by the three per- 
sons who were going with him. Being seated in his 
carriage, he placed at his side general Desnoiiettes. 
The master of the horse, and the marshal of the pa- 
lace entered a second, which immediately followed 
on the route to Wilna. No address was made to the 
army, no proclamation to the Lithuanians, to reani" 
mate their dejected spirits. The one was without a 
chief, the other abandoned by him who had promised 
them every thing. 

The king of Naples took the command of the 
army, but they marched with so much disorder and 
precipitation, that it was only when they arrived at 
Wilna, that the soldiers were informed of a depar- 
ture as discouraging as it was unexpected. * What,' 
said they among themselves, * is it thus that he 
abandons those of whom he calls himself the father ? 
Where then is that genius, who, in the height of 
prosperity, exhorted us to bear our sufferings patient-^ 



THE NIEMEN 325 

iy ? He who lavished our blood, is he afraid to die 
with us ? Will he treat us like the army of Ea^ypt, 
to whom, after having served him faithfully, he be- 
came indifferent, when, by a shameful flight he found 
himself free from danger ?' Such was the conversa- 
tion of the soldiers, which they accompanied by the 
most violent execrations. Never was indignation 
more just, for never were a class of men so worthy of 

The presence of the emperor had kept the chiefs 
to their duty, but when they heard of his departure, 
the greater part of them followed his example, and 
shamefully abandoned the remains of the regiments 
with which they had been intrusted. Until then we 
had found, at intervals, some few armed soldiers, 
who, conducted by their officers, rallied round the 
standard which they had sworn never to forsake, but 
with life. But from the moment that they were de- 
prived of their chiefs, and that unheard-of calamities 
had reduced their numbers, those brave soldiers, who 
were intrusted with the immediate charge, were re- 
duced to the painful necessity of hiding them in their 
knapsacks. Many of them, sensible that they were 
expiring, and knowing that the honour of a French 
soldier consisted in preserving his colours, with a 
weak hand dug up the ground, to save from the Rus- 
sians those ensigns under which our arms had been 
raised to the pinnacle of glory. 

The division of Loison, which had come before 
us from Koningsberg, and that of the->i\eapo]itans, 
from Wilna, having been obliged to encamp in a 



326 THE NIEMEN. 

cold of twenty-two degrees, were totally destroyedj 
and out of six thousand men, of which each was 
cojiiposed, we could only see, through a thick fog, 
some feeble battalions, who ran on the road like mad- 
men. They beat the earth with their feet, to keep 
themselves from being benumbed by the frost, and 
if, unfortunately, they were urged by the wants of 
nature, losing theiise of their hands, they fell on the 
ground, and rose again no more. They who could 
support the fatigue of marching, only prolonged 
their misery ; and if, at length, weary of life, they 
wished to terminate their sufferings, it was necessa- 
ry only to stand still. 

The road which we followed, presented, at every 
step, brave officers, covered with rags, supported by 
branches of pine, their hair and beards stiffened by 
the ice. These warriors, who, a short time before, 
were the terror of our enemies, and the conquerors of . 
Europe, having now lost their fine appearance, crawl- 
ed slowly along, and could scarcely obtain a look of 
pity from the soldiers whom they had formerly com- 
manded. Their situation became still more dread- 
ful, because all who had not strength to march were 
abandoned, and every one who was abandoned by his 
comrades, io an hour afterwards inevitably perished. 
The next day every bivouac presented the image of a 
field of battle. Whenever a soldier, overcome with 
fatigue, chanced to fall, his next neighbour rushed 
eagerly upon him, and before he was dead, robbed 
him of all that he possessed, and even of his clothes. 
Every moment we heard some of tliese unhappy men 



THE NIEMJilNv 327 

ci'ying out for assistance. * My coRirades/ cried 
one, with a heart-rending voice, ' assist me to. rise ; 
lend me a hand to pursue my march.' Every one 
continued his march without regarding him. * Ah !' 
he continued, * I conjure you by every thing which 
is dear to you, do not abandon me to the enemy ; in 
the name of humanity, grant the little assistance I 
ask ; help me to rise.' But those who passed, far from 
being moved by this touching prayer, regarded him 
as already dead, and immediately began to strip him. 
We then heard him crying out, ' Oh, help ! help ! 
They murder me ; they murder me ! why do you 
trample upon me ? Why do you snatch from me my 
money and my bread, and take from me even my 
clothes!' If some generous officer did not arrive in 
time to deliver them, many of these unfortunate be- 
ings would be assassinated by their own comrades. 

(December 7.) We arrived at Joupranoui a lit- 
tle before night. Overcome with fatigue, we were 
obliged to stop there. The ruined houses afforded 
us no shelter from the rigour of the season. Lying 
on each other, suffering with hunger, and pierced 
with cold, we passed the night in groans. 

We marched early in the morning (8th Decem- 
ber,) and arrived at Ochmiana about eleven o'^clock. 
The winter was so severe, that the soldiers burnt 
whole houses to avoid being frozen. We saw round 
the lires, the half-consumed bodies of many unfor- 
tunate men, who, having advanced too near, in order 
to warm themselves, and being too weak to recede, 
l^ad become a prey to the flames. ^Some miserablo 



328 ^ THE NiEMENa ' ' 

beings blacliened with smoke, and besirieared witli 
the blood of the horses which they had devoured, 
wandered like ghosts, round the burning houses. 
They gazed on the dead bodies of their companions, 
and, too feeble to support themselves, fell down, and 
died like them. 

We expected to have received some provisions 
in this town, but we were informed that the cossacks 
had pillaged the magazines, and that JNapoleon had 
passed through half an hour after they were gone. 
We then continued our route, marching in the midst 
of the dead and the dying, and at length arrived at 
the wretched stone chateau of Rovno-Pole, where 
the prince and his staff passed a miserable night. 

Misfortune having equalized all conditions, every 
thing was confounded. It was in vain that the offi- 
cers endeavoured to assert their authority ; it was in- 
solently denied. The colonel, who had no food, was 
obliged to beg a piece of biscuit from the private 
soldier. The man who possessed provisions, al- 
though he were a servant, was surrounded by a 
crowd of courtiers, who, to obtain food, threw aside 
their rank and distinction, and condescended to caress 
hira. In short, to form an adequate idea of the dread- 
ful disorder to which famine and cold had reduced 
us, you oiust figure to yourself thirty thousand men, 
of difierent ranks, niarching together, without order 
and without discipline ; ignorant of the road they 
were 2;oing, and only stopping when weariness or ca- 
price impelled them. The chiefs themselves, being 
accustomed to command, w^ere the most unfortunate.. 



TflE NIETWEN. 329 

Tbey were shunned, to avoid rendering them assis- 
tance; for, in our situation, even to give a glass of 
water, or to raise a fellow-soldier from the ground, 
were offices of kindness which claimed the wannest, 
gratitude. 

The route was covered with soldiers who no long- 
er retained the human form, and whom the enemy 
disdained to make prisoners. Every day these mis- 
erable men made us Avitnesses of scenes too dread- 
ful to relate. Some had lost their hearing, others 
their speech, and many, by excessive cold and hun- 
ger, were reduced to a state of frantic stupidity, in 
which they roasted the dead bodies of their comrades 
for food, or even gnawed their own hands and arms.* 
Some were so weak, that, unable to lift a piece of 
wood, or roll a stone towards the fires which they 
had kindled, they sat upon the dead bodies of their 
comrades, and, with a haggard countenance, stead- 
fastly gazed upon the burning coals. JNo sooner 
was the fire extinguished, than these living spectres, 
unable to rise, fell by the side of those on whom they 
had sat. We saw many who were absolutely insane. 
To warm their frozen feet, they plunged them na- 
ked into the middle of the fire. Some, with a con- 
vulsive laugh, threw themselves into the flames, and 
perished in the most horrible convulsions, and ut- 
tering the most piercing cries ; while others, equal- 
ly insane, immediately followed them, and expe- 
rienced the same fate. 

* Official Report, published hy the Russians at Wilna, 2d De~ 
Gember, 1812. 

42 



330 THE IVIEMEN. 

Sticli was our situation when we arrived at tli6 
village of Roukoni, where some wretched barns 
alone remained filled with dead bodies. Being on- 
ly three leagues from Wilna, many continued their 
march, that they might arrive first in that city ; 
where they hoped not only to find abundance of 
provisions, but. to remain some days and enjoy that 
repose which they so much needed. The fourth 
corps, which could not muster more than two hun- 
dred men, who were yet faithful to their duty, 
iialted in this wretched village. 

At break of day we hastened to quit Roukoni, 
where the cold and the smoke had prevented us 
from closing our eyes. When we were commencing 
our march, the Bavarians, who formed the rear- 
guard, hastily advanced, crying out that the enemy 
was pursuing them. The evening before, it was re- 
ported that they had obtained some advantages over 
the Cossacks ; but the disorder in which they now ar- 
rived, proved that this intelligence was false. How- 
ever, we must do them the justice to say that they 
yet retained some pieces of cannon, but the horses 
were so weak that they could not drag them along. 

Every day's march presented" a repetition of the 
mournful scenes of which I have given a slight 
sketch. Our hearts were so hardened to these dread- 
iiil spectacles, that all sensibility was entirely lost. 
Self-preservation was the only motive which actua- 
ted us, in the state of barbarism to which we were 
reduced. Wilna occupied every thought, and the 
hope that that position would permit us to take some 



THE NIEMEN. 331 

repose, inspired those who were able to continue 
their march, with such extreme joy, that they re- 
garded with indifference the miserable beings who 
crowded the road, struggline; with the agonies of 
death. Wilna, however, the object of our dearest 
hopes, and to which we were pressing on with such 
eagerness, was soon found to be another Smolensko, 

At length we arrived at its suburbs, so ardently 
desired; but our happiness was sadly alloyed when 
we saw the whole of this immense place obstructed 
by a crowd of carriages, horses, and men. This con= 
fusion recalled the B«^resina to my mind ; and such 
was our stupidity, that, being accustomed to follow 
our column, we were afraidof losing ourselves if we 
ventured a few steps from it ; thus, while all were 
pressing against each other to enter at the same 
gate, there were, at the right and left, other ave- 
nues unobstructed. 

When we arrived in the city, we found it in ex- 
treme disorder: the soldiers were running in every 
direction to ascertain the quarters assigned to their 
respective corps. Those of the fourth corps going 
totl>e municipality, saw written in large characters, 
that they were to quarter in the convent of St. Ra- 
phael on the other side of the Yilia. Before they 
went thither they ran as if they were almost famished 
from house to house demanding food. The eating 
houses and taverns, not being sufficient for the im- 
mense number of guests, were instantly shut up. 
But hunger determined us to find provisions; and we 
w.ere compelled to break open the door^. Otherf 



332 THE NIEMEN. 

with money in their hands, pursued the Jews, who, 
in spile of our generosity, could not satisfy us to 
the extent of our wants. 

At WiJna, we heiard that Napoleon had passed 
through incognito, escprted by a feeble detachment 
of three regiments ofNeapolitan cavalry, which had 
been sent before him to clear his route. These 
poor inhabitants of the south were half dead when 
they passed in review ; scarcely had they departed 
from Wilna, when a third part of them fell into the 
rear, having their hands, feet, and noses, entirely 
frozen. The departure of Napoleon in this disgui- 
sed manner, not only spread consternation among 
the Lithuanians, who were devoted to us, but sadly 
discouraged the French troops. The first were in- 
dignant at finding themselves exposed to the re- 
sentment of a master, whose yoke they had wished 
to shake off; the others were alarmed for their own 
preservation, for, in a situation so critical, every 
one thought that the absence of the chief, consum- 
mated our ruin. Many, however, who felt all the 
dangers to which we were exposed, yet jealous for 
the glory of our arms, thought his departure was 
fortunate. — ' Napoleon,' said they, ' when at Paris, 
will re-organize a noble army ; will secure the 
peace of France, and maintain the co-operation of 
the allies, whose defection would be so dangerous.' 

About three o'clock in the afternoon, the rear of 
our long column had scarcely entered the suburbs, 
when we heard that the cossacks had taken posses- 
sion of the heights which commanded the city. In 



THE NIEMEN. 33S 

effect they soon began to fire upon us. At the re- 
port of the cannon, the new troops who were at 
Wilna, beat the drum and sounded the trumpet. In 
an instant the place was in arms. By one of those 
chances by which Providence confounds the proud, 
and punishes the insolent, it happened that the co- 
lossal power of Napoleon was so completely reduc- 
ed in this iron climate, as to have no other support 
than the remains of a Neapolitan division, formed 
from the o;arrisons of Tarentum and Capua. These 
troops being quickly dispersed, terror immediate- 
ly spread through the city ; and at the single word 
of the ' cossaJcs,^ all the soldiers rushed from their 
quarters and betook themselves to flight. The king 
of Naples, forgetting his rank, suddenly abandon- 
ed his palace, and on foot, followed by his officers, 
pierced through the crowd, and escaped from the 
town to encamp on the road to Kowno. 

While some of the soldiers took arms, others, as 
night advanced, profiting by the evacuation of the 
magazines, carried off the clothes and military equip- 
ments which had been collected there ; but the great- 
er part searching only for food, knocked at every 
door, and their redoubled blows seemed the dreadful 
presage of a universal pillage. The inhabitants, 
trembling in their houses, dreaded the impending 
desolation, as they heard on every side the noise of 
cannon, which thundered over their heads. 

We gave up all hope of repose, and the feeble 
relics of our army not being able to resist the at- 
tacks of the enemy, we determined to profit by the 



m 



334 THE NIEMEN. 

obscurity of ilie Tii2;"ht, to quit so dangerous a posi- 
tion. It was decided, that at eleven o'clock we 
should evacuate the town. The hour being arrived, 
we silently proceeded on our route, leaving the 
streets covered with soldiers, intoxicated, asleep, or 
dead. The courts, the galleries, the stairs of the va- 
rious buildings, were filled with them, and not one 
would march, or even rise to obey the orders of the 
chief who called him. After leaving Wilna, with as 
much difficulty as we entered it, the prince and the 
staff went to the king of Naples, where all the offi- 
cers remained till one o'clock in the morning. 

In the middle of a dark night (10th December,) 
we marched on the road to Kowno, but the snow 
which covered the country, caused usto wander eve- 
ry moment, and left us for a long time uncertain of 
the road ; for the Poles going to Ne w-Troki, had left 
the traces of another route which was calculated to 
mislead us. Two hours afterwards we arrived at the 
foot of a mountain, inaccessible on account of its 
steepness, and the ice with which it was covered. 
All around were the remains of the equipages of 
Napoleon, the baggage left at Wilna, the treasures 
of the army, and the waggons containing the fatal 
trophies brought from Moscow, so that we no long- 
er doubted that we were on the road to Kowno. 

While we were groaning at the foot of this moun- 
tain, without the power to climb it, we distinctly 
heard the firing between the cossacks and our sharp- 
shooters. Actuated by that unseasonable discontent 
and ill-humour which misfortune inspires, many ex- 



THE NIEMEN* 335 

claimed that it would have beenbetter to have gone 
to New-Troki, and to have avoided this fatal moun- 
tain. All who were thus arrested here, and who 
were mostly sick or wounded, considered them- 
selves as a certain prey to the enemy. Their grief 
was increased by the reflection that they must per- 
ish after having so nearly reached the wished for 
post, and having escaped the dangers of KrasnoS 
and the Beresina. Their grief was soon changed to 
despair, when we heard that the cossacks, having 
passed Wilna, had pursued our rear-guard and were 
advancingto wards us. Dire necessity, however com- 
pelled us to wait till the dawn of day, that we might 
discover whether there were any means of going 
round the mountain, which our horses could not 
climb. In this interval we kindled a fire, and every 
one deeply sighing, impatiently waited the return 
of day. 

We looked every where in vain ; the mountain 
was so slippery, and the horses so fatigued, that we 
despaired of escape. The idea then occured to us of 
compelling the soldiers of the escort to carry the mo- 
ney belonging to the military chest. It then contain- 
ed about five millions, the greatest part of which was 
in crowns. We had little doubt, however, that the 
soldiers, whom it w^s impossible to watch, or to de- 
tect, would carry ofT, for their own use, that which 
was intrusted to their care. The standards taken 
from the., enemy, respecting which these venal 
wretches were no longer interested, were cowardly 
abandoned at the foot of the mountain. Amongthese 
was the famous cross of St. Iwan^ which would have 



336 I'HE NIEMEN. 

made SO glorious an addition to our trophies, if the 
Russians, whom we termed barbarians, had not giv- 
en us a noble example of a moderation which rare- 
ly accompanies victory. 

Those who follovVed augmented the number of 
plunderers, and it was truly curious to see those who 
were dy ing with hunger, laden with more riches than 
they could possibly carry. They saw the money dis- 
tribured among them, with the most perfect indiffer- 
ence ; and searched in preference for the coarsest 
food. Trunks and portmanteaus broken open and 
plundered, were seen in every direction. The most 
superb court-dresses, and the richest furs were worn 
by those whose countenances w^ere hideous and dis- 
gusting. Returning from the pillage, many of them 
offered sixty francs for a louis, and some gave ten 
crowns, for a glass of brandy. One of the soldiers, 
in my presence, offered to sell a cask filled with 
silver, for a few pieces of gold : it was bought by 
a superior officer who placed it on his sledge. It is 
impossible to form an adequate idea of the confu- 
sion which our army now presented. Far from being 
reanimated by the presence of some battalions lately 
arrived from Prussia, they spread consternation a- 
mong these new troops, who, not knowing whom to 
obey, likewise threw away their arms, and increased 
the crowd of stragglers. In short, all our soldiers, 
transformed into brokers, only sought to sell their 
stolen goods, while those who had pillaged the mili- 
tary chest were eager to buy, that they might, at 
least, retain something valuable. Every one spoke 



THE NIEMEN. 337 

familiarly of ingots and jewels. Every soldier was 
laden with silver, but none with a musket. Ought 
we to be astonished at the fears which the cossacks 
inspired ? 

In this state of confusion, after five hours dis- 
tressing march, we arrived at Eve, about ten leagues 
from Wilna. We had scarcely entered it when the 
count Mejean,* supported by his son and the valet 
de chambre of the prince, arrived. This unfortu- 
nate father, to whose generous devotion to the ser- 
vice I regret that the limits of my work will not per- 
mit me to do justice, had been obliged to travel on 
foot, from the mountain of Wilna, across a country 
covered with snow. But this nobleman, whose cour- 
age had often astonished us, and who, though not a^ 
soldier, had patiently endured the sufferings to 
which we were subjected, felt such great attachment 
to the prince, that he quite forgot the misfortunes 
of the day as soon as he found himself in the pres- 
ence of his highness. 

Similar miseries happened to others. The prince 
of Eckmuhl, weakened by a fever, could only travel 
in a carriage. The quarter-master-general Joubert, 
who had long been destitute of servants, had been 
left in this village, in a situation so miserable, that 
he excited the tears of all who saw him. We were 

* Counsellor of state of the kingdom of Italy, and secretary 
io the viceroy. He had been present during the whole campaign 
with his two sons, and heard at the Beresina. that bis youngest 9Pr> 
had ber>n klled at the battle of Polot'^k. 
43 



33'B ' THE NIEMEW. 

equally anxious respeclina; the fate of many other 
officers ^vho remained with the baggage of the 
prince. In the evening we ascertained, that owing 
to the skill and extraordinary activity of the adju- 
tant of the palace Boutarel, these stragglers, had 
gone to New-Troki to avoid the mountain of Wilna, 
and that it was only the length of the journey which 
prevented them from arriving at Eve. 

(December II th.) Leaving this village, we were 
informed by those who had escaped from Wilna, 
that the Russians had entered it at day-break. A 
crowd of generals, colonels, and officers, and more 
than twenty thousand soldiers, who were detained 
by weakness, fell into their hands. They added, that 
the officers had been well treated, but that every sol- 
dier or servant was immediately ordered to Moscow 
to be employed in rebuilding the city. These unfor- 
tunate men lying in the streets, or public places, 
without fire, without food, and most of them wound- 
ed or sick, presented a spectacle so afflicting, that 
the enemy endeavored to mitigate their sufferings. 
The least to be pitied, were those who, having been 
plundered by the cossacks, died shortly after our de- 
parture. We now had a thousand proofs of human 
weakness! the same men who had dragged them- 
selves along from Moscov/to Wilna, wanted cour- 
age to pursue their course a few leagues more, when 
that little space would have ensured their existence. 
We heard also that the Jews had ill-treated many of 
our soldiers, particularly those of the imperialguard, 
(bus wishing to take revenge for the losses which 



THE NIEMEN. 339 

theyliad suffered ; but the Russians, witli that jus- 
tice which always characterised them, hun^ many of 
these Israelites, as a lesson to the people that they 
should not mingle their passions with the quarrels 
of sovereigns. 

The rear of our long column, which covered all 
the road with the dead and the dying, was continual- 
ly followed by a cloud of cossacks, who pillaged our 
soldiers, and afterwards left them to the custody of 
the peasants, who carried them into the rear, after 
treating them with a thousand indignities. At 
length the Russians, weary of making prisoners, 
liberated all the soldiers belonging to the confede- 
ration of the Rhine, and contented themselves with 
detaining officers of distinction. But when they 
seized a Frenchman, miserable as he was, they strip- 
ped him, and treated him with the greatest ridicule. 
If he marched with them during the night, he was 
ordered to fetch water or wood. They afterwards 
brutally drove him from the fire which he had kind- 
led. Such was the fatal lot of the soldiers, who, com- 
-pelled to fight, are always the principal victims of 
the calamities which flow from the quarrels of kings. 
A cossack officer, who spoke very good French, 
overtook one of our sutlers, who earnestly implored 
mercy, exclaiming that he was not a soldier. He 
then offered his purse to satisfy the cossacks. Not 
content with this prize, they began to search him, 
and found in his pockets boxes of gold, diamonds, 
and numerous rings enriched with precious stones, 
which h€ had, no doubt, taken at the pillage of Mos- 



340 THE KIEMEN. 

COW. At the sight of this, the oflficer could not re^ 
strain his indignation, and said to the sutler, " See 
to what your avarice has reduced you. In the hope 
of plunder, you have followed the armies, to share 
in their booty, without partaking of their dangers. 
In obtaining these much desired riches, you have 
been enfeebled by their weight, and could not es- 
cape my pursuit. I could justly send you captive 
to the city > ou have ravaged ; but you are too mis- 
erable to re-build that which you have destroyed. 
Return if you can to France ; and when you speak 
of our clemency, describe to your fellow citizens 
tiie miserable state to which they expose themselves 
who trouble the peace of the world, by following 
the standards of an unjust aggressor." At these 
words he left him to the cossacks, who, disdaining 
to make him prisoner, drove him before them, beat- 
ing him with the handle of their lances. 

Before we arrived at Zismori, we heard a can- 
nonade at our rear, and at no great distance ; we 
hence concluded that the few soldiers of the rear- 
guard which remained, were briskly pursued. Not- 
withstanding this, the fatigue of the troops was so 
great that many, preferring repose to safety, stop- 
ped at Zismori ; but the viceroy went on to the 
village of Roumchichki. 

(December i2ih.) Exhausted by long and harass- 
ing vnarches, and dying with fatigue, we at length 
arrived at Kowno, where the wrecks of the ditferent 
corps were re-united. They encamped as usual in 
the streets, and as we knew thg^t our deplorable sit- 



THE NIEMEN. 341 

uation no longer permitted us to preserve any dis- 
cipline, we gave up to pillage the magazines, which 
were amply stored. Immediately, clothes, corn, and 
rum, were every where seen in abundance. Our 
quarters were filled with broken casks, and the li- 
quor which was spilled, formed a little sea, in the 
middle of the public square. The soldiers, having 
long been deprived of this beverage, drank to ex- 
cess, and more than two thousand of them, com- 
pletely intoxicated, slept upon the snow. Benumbed 
with cold, they all perished. 

It was announced in the evening that the fourth 
corps would take the road to Tilsit ; and as many of 
us, to avoid the strange confusion which generally 
prevailed, had been accustomed to sleep one or two 
leagues beyond the head-quarters, a great number 
set out towards that town. In the middle of the 
night, the chief of the staff came to look for the 
fourth corps, which was literally shut up in a single 
room. He told us that the order had been revoked ; 
and that we were to proceed to Gumbinnen instead 
of Tilsit. This order and counter-order completed 
our ruin. From that time, the fourth corps consist- 
ed only of the household of the prince, and about 
eight or ten stafi-officers. 

(December J 3th.) As we left Kowno on the mor- 
row, we found the same tumult which we had ex- 
perienced at the gate of Wilna. The crowd was 
pressing towards the bridge, although the JNiemen 
was frozen hard enough to have borne the weight of 
artillery. In Kowno and its environs, we saw a great 



342 THE NlEMES. 

number of unfortunate soldiers lying on the snow, 
who had perished when thej so nearij reached the 
end of this fatal expedition. We were particularly 
affected at seeing colonel Vidman among the dead. 
He was one of the small number of the Italian guards 
of honour, who had, till then, sustained the same fa- 
tigues as ourselves; but, unable to proceed further, 
he fell, as he was leaving Kowno to cross the 
bridfi:e, and expired, without having the satisfaction 
of dying out of Russia. 

The calamities of the army had extended to the 
imperial guard, and many of its soldiers died every 
day from hunger, cold and fatigue. Among these 
victims I saw one truly worthy of admiration. He 
was an old grenadier. As he lay on the bridge of 
Kowno, he was spared by the crowd, who, passing 
by him, had respected his uniform, his decorations, 
and, above all, his three chevrons. This brave man 
seemed to await his death with the utmost firmness, 
and disdained to have recourse, like so many others, 
to useless supplications. By chance, some of his 
comrades passed by, and then he made a last effort 
to rise, but unable to accomplish it, and feeling him- 
self dying, he summoned all his strength, and said 
to one of his companions, who approached to assist 
him, ' Cease my friend. Do not lavish on me su- 
perfluous assistance. I die with regret at being con- 
quered by enemies with whom we could not fight. 
Famine and winter have alone reduced me to the 
state in which you now see me. This body, wliich 
has supported more than ten wounds, falls miserably 



THE NIEMEN. 343 

to-day for want of a morsel of bread. Ah ! if our 
enemies indeed triumph by means of the rigour of 
their climate, let them not profane the distinctions 
that 1 have gained in fighting against them. Carry 
to my captain this decoration, which was given to 
me on the field of Austerlitz; take him likewise 
my sabre ; I used it in the battle of Friedland, and 
it would still be as fatal to the Russians, as it was at 
that period, if the approaching spring would per- 
mit us to go to Petersburgh, as we have been to 
Moscow.' 

On the morning of the 13th of December, out of 
four hundred thousand warriors, who had crossed 
the Niemen, at the opening of the campaign, scarce- 
ly twenty thousand men repassed it, of whom at 
least two thirds had not seen the Kremlin. Arri- 
ved at the opposite bank, like ghosts returned from 
the infernal regions, we fearfully looked behind us, 
and beheld with horror the savage countries where 
we had suffered so much. INo person would then 
easily believe that we had once regarded these cli- 
mates with envy, and thought those dishonoured 
who arrived at them last. 

After crossing the bridge, we turned to the left 
to reach Gumbinnen. Many wished to go to the 
right; still thinking, after the order of the preceding 
evening, that they must march to Tilsit. We who 
followed the proper road, had not proceeded far, 
when we were obliged to climb a lofty mountain, 
prodii^iously steep, and which would have been fa- 
t-al to our equipages, if we bad not long ago been 



344 THE KIEMEN4 

deprived of tlieiii. Many carls and carriages which 
were in the depot of Kowno, and a superb park of 
artillery, lately arrived from Koningsberg, were 
left at the foot of the mountain. 

Scarcely had we arrived in Poland, when our sol- 
diers dispersed in different roads, and wandered, like 
simple travellers, in the same country, which six 
months before, had been covered with our nume- 
rous armies. In the evening the king of Naples and 
the prince halted at Skrauda. The same morning 
.(l4th December,) when we departed from this vil- 
lage, the Cossacks entered Kowno, passed the Nie- 
rnen, which was frozen at every point, and spread 
themselves over the immense plains of Poland where 
they massacred, or made prisoners many of our scat- 
tered soldiers, who, not thinking that the Russians 
would pass the Niemen, thought that they were safe* 

From Skrauda many took the direction of Thorn; 
but the viceroy still continued to follow the road of 
Gumbinnen, and arrived in this little town after hav- 
ing slept at Pillwizken, Virbailen, and Darkehmen 
(14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th December,) Thence he 
sent general Gifflenge, his aid-de-camp, to Konings- 
berg, to order all those of the 4th corps who had tak- 
en the road of Tilsit, to proceed to Marie nwerder. 

Koningsberg being the first great city in the vi- 
cinity of our march, was soon filled with those who, 
having escaped from Moscow, hoped now to recover 
from tlie misfortunes miich they had suffered. The 
coffee-houses, the restaurateursjthefurnishedhotels, 
could not at any one price satisfy the extent of our 



THE NTEMEN. 34S 

#ants. It was necessary to pierce throiis;h a crowd 
to enter any of them. The cold was terrible but the 
delicious sensation of knowing that we could now 
defend ourselves against it, and moreover the plea- 
sure of obtaining whatever we desired, were still 
more heightened, since six months of continual hard- 
ships had deprived us of every thing in which the 
comforts of life consisted. 

The king of Naples came io Koningsberg, where 
he was coldly received by the principal authorities of 
the town. The chiefs of each corps placed them- 
selves in cantonments along the Vistula, and occupi- 
ed the towns of Plock, Thorn, Marienberg, Marien- 
werder, and Elbing. During this time the viceroys 
having quitted Gujnbinnen, passed bylnsterbergand 
Weblau, ( 1 8th, 1 9th December,) to visit the fields of 
Friedland, Eylau, and Heilsberg (20th, 21st, 22d, 
December,) thus furnishing himself, even in these 
unhappy circumstances, with subjects for useful me- 
ditation. (27th December) His highness arrived at 
Marienwerder, where he was occupied in collecting 
together all who remained of the fourth corps. After 
every research, we succeeded in collecting about 
eight hundred wounded, the miserable remains of 
forty-eight thousand warriors, all of Whom had 
marched from Italy to Russia. They were the vic-^ 
tims, not of the arms of the enemy, but of the fatal 
imprudence of their chief, who, not satisfied with ha- 
ing subjugated the best half of Europe, wished to 
contend with the elements, for a country which con- 
sisted only of deserts. The viceroy afterwards des- 



M6 THE NIEMEK. 

pal died towards France and Italy those officers an^ 
soldiers, whose infirmities would not permit them to 
undertake another campaign. He rewarded those 
soldiers who had behaved well, and punished, by the 
most sensible disgraces, those few who had dishon- 
oured themselves by a cowardly and pusillanimous 
conduct. 

Such were the dreadful calamities which annihi- 
lated a powerful army, which had rashly undertaken 
the proudest antl the tnost useless of all exp>editions. 
If we look into the annals of antiquity, we shall find 
that never, since the time of Cambyses, did so nume-? 
rous a body of men experience such dreadful re- 
verses. Thus were the boastful predictions of Na- 
poleon at Ihe campaign, literally fulfilled, but with 
thi;? difference, that not Russia, but himself * hurried 
away by a fatality, had accomplished his destiny.' 
These ealamities have had one happy result, by 
putting an end to a despotic influence ; they have 
restored to Europe her liberty, and to France her 
happiness. 



END OF THE NARRATIVE. 



ITINERARY 

Of the March of the Fourth Corps in the Rvssicm 
Territory, during the Campaign oj 1812. 

LeagueSo 

i July, 1812, from Pilony to Kroni - 2 

2 Melangani - - - - . 7 

3 Rouicontoui - - - - - 6 

4 JNew-Troki ^ - - , - 3 

5 Halted. 

6 Ditto. 

7 - — Rudniki - ... - 6 

8 Paradomin - - - ^- - 3 

9 Halted. 

10 Paulovo ----- 4 

(At the castle of the count of Choiseuil.) 

11 Ochmiana ----- 6i 

12 Smorghoni - ^ - ;. 3 

13 Halted. 

14 From Smorghoni to Zachkevitschi - 3i 

15 — Yileika - - - - - 8 

16 Kostenevitschi - - - - 6 



Carried over, 62? 

The emperor Napoleon passed the Niemen at Kowno, the 2Jth June ; 
the 22d, being at Wilkowiski, he declared war against Russia. The 
fourth corps, commanded by the viceroy of Italy, passed the Niemen at 
Pilony ; the advanced-guard effected its passage the 29th ; but the 
prince and the fifteenth division passed on the 1st of July. On the 28tt3i 
Napoleon was at Wjlna, 



■i'!^- 
*..•*■ 



MB ITINERARY. 

Leagues. 
Brought over, 62j 

17 July, Dolghinow - - - - - 41 

18 Dokzice = - - - - 7 

19 Halted. 

20 Berezino - » - - „ 6| 

21 — — Pouichna, or Gloubokoe - - Gh 

22 Kamen - , - , - 6 

23 — — BotscheikoYo - , - - 3f 
24 From Smorghoni to Bezenkovitschi 4 

25 Soritza (3 leagues on this side Ostrowno)4i 

26 Combat (bivouac at small castleDobrijka)5| 

27 Bivouac before VVitepsk - - 2? 

28 Bivouac at Agbaponovchtchina - 5? 

29 Spurai ° ° - - - » 5 

30 = Halted, 

1 August, Ditto. 

2 Ditto. 

3 Ditto. 

4 Ditto. 

5 Ditto, 

6 Ditto. 

7 Ditto= 

S Ditto. 

9 From Saurai to Janowitschi - 4 

10 Halted. 

11 Velechkovitschi ~ - 31 

12 Liozna - - - - 21 

13 • Liouvavitschi - - - - 51 

14 — Rasasna - - - - 4 



Carried over, 143 



ITINERARY. 349 

Leagues. 
Brought over, 143 
15 August Siniaki - - - - 7,1-4 

16 Katova - - - - . 3 

17 Bivouac (at a league from Korouitnia) 5 

18 Bivouac(near the chateauof Nov oidv or) 5 

19 Suburb of Smolensk - - 1,1-2 

20 Passed fhe JNieper (bivouac above 

Smolensk - - . i_2 

21 Bivouac same place. 

22 — — Ditto. 

23 Yolodimerowa - - - 5 

24 Pologhi - - - , - 7,1.2 

25 Zazele - - - - 5,1-2 

26 Mikailovskoe - - - - 7,1-2 

27 Agopochina (passed the Niemen at 

Blaghove) - - - - 4,1-2 

28 Bivouac (round a chateau a league be- 
yond Bereski) - - 4 

29 From Agopochina to Novoe - 9 

30 Halted. 

31 Pokron 6,3-4 

1 September Paulova - * - 6,1-2 

2 Woremiewo - r' - 2 

3 Halted. 

4 Louzos - - - - - 5,1-2 

5 Encamped on the heights of Borodino 4 

6 Ditto. 

7 Battle. 

8 — — Ouspenskoe, or Krasnoe - 3,1-4 



Carried over, 236,1-4 



350 ITlNERARYo 

Leagues. 

Brought over, 236,1-4 

9 September Rouza - - - 6,1-4 

10 Halted. 

1 1 Alpalchichoiiina - - - 4,1-2 

12 Zvvenighorod - - - . 3,1-2 

13 Buzaievo - - - - 6,1-2 

14 ^ Khorechevo - - - - 4,3-4 

15 Moscow - - - - - 2 



Total from Pilony to Moscow - 263,3-4 



Stopped in this city from 15th Sept. until 
18 October, Villajje on the road from Kalouga, 

a league from Moscow - - 1 

19 Little village, near Batoutinka bivouac 5 

20 Inatowo - - - 7,1-2 

2 1 Fominskoe - - - - - 3 

22 Halted. 

23 From Fominskoe to a village half a 

league beyond Borovsk bivouac 7,1-4 

24 — Battle of Malo-Jaroslavitz. Bivouac 4,3-4 

25 Halted. 

26 '- Ouvarovskoe bivouac - - 4 

27 Alfereva - - - - 4,1-2 

28 Village a league beyond Borisov, sup- 
posed to be Mitiaeva - - 2,1-2 

29 Ouspenskoe, called Krasnoe bivouac 5,1-2 

30 Village half a league on the right of the 

road between Kolotskoi and Prokofevo 
bivouac - _ _ 6 



Carried over, 51 



ITINERARY. 351 

Leagues. 
Brought over, 51 
31 October Ghiat bivouac _ - - 8,1-4 
1 November Near Velitchevo bivouac - 5 

2 Foederovskoe bivouac - - 6,1-4 

3 Battle of Viazma, bivouac half a league 

further - - » - - 3,1-2 

4 Rouibki, a league beyond Semlevo 7 

5 Jolkov Postoia Door - - 3,1-2 

6 Doroghoboui bivouac - 6 

7 From Fominskoe to Zazele bivouac 7 

6 ■ Sloboda bivouac - - 4 

9 From Sloboda passed the Wop, bivou- 
acked at a little village, half a league 
from this river - - 1 

10 Doukhovchtchina - _ - 4,1-2 

1 1 Halted. 

12 Wolodimerowa bivouac - 6^,3-4 

13 Smolensko - - - - 5,1-4 

14 Halted. 

15 Hamlet three leagues from Smolensko, 

supposed to be Loubna - 3,1-2 

16 Krasnoe - - - - 7 

17 Liadoui - - ^ - 1^1.2 

18 Dowbrowna - - - 8 

19 Orcha - - - - - 4 

20 Halted. 

21 Half a league before Kokhanovo bi- 
vouac - - - 5 

22 Bivouac round a castle, half a league 

this side Toloschin - 5 



Carried over 153 



352 ITLNERARY. 

League^i 
Brought over 153 

23 November Bivouac three leagues from To- 

loschin near Jablonka * 4 

24 Bohr - . - . 4 

25 Little village, five leagues from Bobr 

where there is an insulated church, 
bivouac - - - - 5,1-2 

26 — — Prom a village at Nemonitsa, to two 
and a half leagues on this side Bori- 
sov, bivouac - - 5,1-2 

27 Studzianca, passage of the Beresina, 

- bivouac - _ - 4,1-2 

28 ^ Zembin, bivouac, - - - 4,1-2 

29 Kamen, - - - - - 3,1-4 

30— — Niestanovitschi, nearZavichino, - 6 
1 December, Uiia . . - . 4,1-2 

2 Molodetschino . - - g 

3 Halted. 

4 Village supposed to be Markovo bivouac? 

5 Smorghoni . _ - - 4,1-4 

6 Joupranoui - - - - 5 

7 . Rovno-Pole bivouac - - 5 

8 Roukoni bivouac - - 5,1-2 

9 _ — . Wilna ----- 3 

10 Eve bivouac - - ^ - 10 

11 Zismori - - - - 6 

12 Kowno - , - - - - 10 



Total 256,1-2 



From Niemen to Moscow 263,3-4 
Total 520J-4 



A LIST 

Of all the Persons mentioned in this worky with iJitif 
Rank, during the Campaign in Russia, 

NAPOLEON. 

Jerome Bonaparte, king; of Westjtbalia, commander of the 8th corp*. 
Joachim Murat, Kins: of Naples, com.Tiander of all the cavahy. 
E ' ''"ae lie Beauharu- •!?, viceroy of Italy, commander of the 4th corps. 
Be thier, prince of Neufchiital and of Wagram, major general. 
Dav'oast, prince of Eckmuhl, commander of 1st corps. 



Oudincf, duke of Reggio, 


do. 


2d. 


Ney, duke of Elcliingen, 


do. 


3d. prince of Moskwa. 


P ince Pon; itowski, 


do. 


5th. 


M .;shal count St. Cyr, 


do. 


6th. 


General count Regnier, 


do. 


7th. 


Junot, dake of Aorantes, 


do. 


8th. 


Victor, duke of Belluno, 


do. 


9th. 


Duke of Tarentum, 


do. 


10th. 



Prince Sch.vartzenberg, command^ ctf the Austrian auxiliary corps. 
Bessieres, duke of Tstria, commnmier of the cavalry of the guard. 
Caulinconrt, duke of Viceaza, general of liivlsion, grand ecuyer. 
Duroc, duke of Frioul, general, grand marshal of the palace. 
Count Rapp, do. ) aids de camp to the 

Count Lauriston, do. y emperor. 

Count Lefe')r<-.Desnouettes, general of division, colonel of the horse 

chasseurs of the guard. 
Count F riant, general of division, colonel of the grenadiers of the 

foot guards. 
Count Nausouty, J 

Count Grouchy, \ Commanders of cavalry corps. 

Count Montbrun, y 

General Dessoies, chief of the viceroy's staff. 
Count Di-.nthou.ird, commander of the artillery of the 4th corps. 
Count E'^ie, genei-iil of division of artillery, commander of the 

bridge equipages. 
Count Gudin, 'j 

Baron Ger;;rd, | 

Count Dessdix, V Generals of division — Ist corps. 

Count Co:npans, j 

Coui.t Morand, J 

Count Verdier, ^ 

Count Lea-rand, ) Generals of divisioa— 2d corps. 

Baron Merle, ) 

A 5 



354 LIST OF NAMES, 

Baron Ledrul, commander of a division — 3d corps. 

Count of Claparede, general of division, commander of the legion 

of the Vistula. 
Baron Delzons, 
Count Broussier, \ Generals of division — 4th corpSo 



Count PinOj 

Baron Wrede, 

General de Roy, J> Bavarian generals — 6th corps. 

General Sierbein, 

Count Parthonneaux, ) ^ , „ ,. . . .,, 

Baron Girard, \ Generals of division-9th corps. 

Baron Grandjean, commander of a division — lOth corps. 
General Gravers, } n • i in^i. 

General Kleist, \ Prussian generals-1 0th corps. 

Count Charpentier, general of division, governor of Smolensk©. 

Count Baraguey d'Hilliers, general of division. 

Count Loison, commander of a division, from Koningsberg. 

General Dombrowski, commander of a Polish division. 

Count Sanson, general of division, chief of the topographical bureau. 

Baron Haxo, general of division of engineers. 

Count Sebastiani, 'j 

Baron Lahoussaye, I 

Count Bruyeres, |> G^erals of division of cavalry. 

Baron de St. Germain, j 

Baron Doumerc, J 

Count Preyssing, commander of a division of light Bavarian cavalry. 

Prince Czartoryski, grand marshal of the diet of Warsaw. 

Count Mejeau, counsellor of state of the kingdom of Italy, and 

secretary of the viceroy. 
General Poitevin (baron Maureillan,) commander of the engineers 

of the 4th corps. 
Baron Aubrey, commander of artillery of 2d corps. 

GENERALS OF BRIGADE, 

Barons Ricard, Rousel, Huard, Plausanne, Bonami, Nagle, Auge- 
reau, Marion, Compere, Villata, Fontane, Levie, Chastel, Berk- 
- heim, Colbert, Castex, Saint Geniez, Aug. Caiilincourt, Pajol, 
Guy on. 
Pouget, general of brigade, governor of Witepsk. 
Lecchi, ditto. ditto, commander of the Italian guard. 

Lepel, aid de camp to the king of Westphalia. 
D'Hery, aid de camp to the king of Naples. 
Kleiigel, general in the Saxon service. 
General Jomini, governor of Orcha. 
Baron Triaire, general of brigade, aid de camp to the viceroy, 



LIST OF NAMES. 355 

Baron Gifflenge, general of brigade, aid de-camp to the viceroy. 
Baron Lacroix, colonel, ditto. 
Count Louis Tascher Lapagerie, "\ 

' ?''''' Labedoyere, f ^.^.^^^ ^^ squadrons. 

Maurice iVlejean, i * 

• Jules Desseve, j 

Colonel Delfanti, officer of the ordnance of the viceroy. 
Andre Corner, lieutenant ditto. 
Liedot, colonel of engineers. 
Marboeuf, colonel of lancers. 
Kliski, Polish colonel, with the viceroy. 
Radzivil, colonel of the 8th Polish Hulans. 

Durieu, adjutant commander, sub-chief of the staff of the 4th corps. 
De Bourmont, i 

Asselin, > Adjutant commanders attached to this staff. 

Foiestier, ) 

xColonel Grosbon, of the 53d regiment. 

'— Battaglia, commander of the Italian guards of honour. 

Vidmann, commander of the company of the Venetian 

guards of honour. 

Demay, commander of the artillery of the 13th division, 

Banco, of the horse chasseurs. 

Rambourg, of the 3d ditto. 



D'Oreille, major of the Spanish regiment Joseph Napoleon. 

Vives, major of artillery. 

Colaud, chief of battalion, waggon master-general of the 4th corps. 

Sewlinge, ditto, attached to the staff. 

Boutarel, captain of horse-chasseurs, adjutant of the palais royal 

of MoFiza. 
Trezel, captain, aid-de-camp of general Guilleminot. 
Blaisonneure, \ 

Jouard, \ Assistant captains of the staff of the 4th corps. 

Evrardj ^ 

Morlaincourt, captain of engineers to th^ 4th division. 
Eonardeile, captain of artillerj^ 
Octave de Segur, } ^^ „ , 

Ferrari \ Oncers of hussars. 

Savarv' i Captains of the 9th of the line. 

Bordoni, J Lieutenants in the Italian guards of 

Mastini, ^ honour. 

Saint Marcellin de Fontanes, attached to the staff of the 4th corps. 
Lesseps, French consul at Moscow. 

Villeblanche, auditor of the council of state, intendant of Smo- 
lensko, 



356 fclST OF NAMES« 



ALEXANDER I. emperor of Russia. 

Grrand duke Constantine. 

Prince Kntusoff, commander-in-chief of the Russian array. 

Barclay de Tolly, comraadder-iii-chief before the arrival of priiic© 

Kutusoif. 
Prince Wittgenstein, commander of the 1st Russian corps. 

C Bagawout, do. 2d do. 

] Schomoaloff, do. 3d do. 

^ , j Tutschkoff. do. 4th do. 

ixenerais ^ p^..^^^ Bagration, do. 5th* do. 

Doctorrow, do. 6th do. 

t Tormasow, do. 7th do. 

Admiral Tschikakoff, commander of the army of the Danube^ 
PlatoflF, Hetman of the Cossacks. 
Platoff, son. 

Orlow Dennisow, general of the advanced-guard. 
Kamenski, \ 

•r, ' > Generals commanders in Volhynia. 

jbssen, C •' 

MarcoS", 3 

Repuin, ) Generals, commanders in the corps of prince 

Stengel, ■ ^ Wittgenstein. 

Lambert, commanding a division of the army of the Danube. 

Sicverse, geceral, employed in the second army of the West. 

Ostermann, "j 

Sh"lT^^^"' i ^^'^^^''^^^ employed in the centre of the Russian 

Ouvarow, ( ^' 

Balla, J 

Koulniew, general of light cavalry. 

Koff, general of cavalry. 

Miloradowitch, commander-general of the advanced-guard of prince 

Kutiisoff. 
Archbishop Platon. 
Bishop Augustin, vicar of Moscow. 
Rostopchin, 
Moraonoff, 

Orlow, ^ Nobles of Moscow. 

Saltikoff, 
Shermitow, -^ 

* Second corps, called the army of the west, 
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